King’s academic Dr Jan Knoerich has designed a free repository to address current major knowledge and information gaps on outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) – an international economic activity by multinational enterprises that has increasingly been shown to boost a country’s investment competitiveness, which is crucial for long-term, sustainable growth.

The OFDI Policy Toolkit for Sustainable Development provides evidenced-based policy advice on the impact of OFDI on home countries and was developed in partnership with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific and the World Economic Forum.

It is targeted towards those looking to see how OFDI can contribute to sustainable development in home countries, such as policymakers, but also international organisations, private companies and researchers.

"While these policies and measures have been used in advanced economies, in recent years governments in developing end emerging economies, including China and many other Asian economies, have shown growing interest in adopting them, specifically to advance their sustainable development."

The toolkit provides a repository of policy measures that countries are already using and guidance on how to develop policy measures related to OFDI. Each section and subsection also provide an explanatory note, key insights for policy makers, and available research and empirical findings.

The toolkit will be shared at various international and intergovernmental meetings on investment and trade, and will be used for technical assistance activities and capacity building workshops.