Sector The Sector indicates what is being provided at the site of the project. This is unique to each project and while it is guided by the company involved, a company may have projects in multiple sectors.

Subsector Subsector is defined as a more specific area within a sector in which the FDI project is involved. i.e. a project may be classified as the Video Games subsector within the Software & IT Services sector.

Business Activity Describes the business activity conducted at the project, such as manufacturing, sales, extraction, construction, or R&D.

Tag Tags enable users to refine searches with additional technological and political criteria of interest, not fully covered by standard classifications. Examples range from business areas like Blockchain to current events such as Coronavirus.

Technology Level Projects are classified by Technology Level, based on definitions from the OECD, EU, and BEA:

• High Tech: Significant R&D investment, cutting-edge technologies, high innovation, often involving advanced manufacturing, biotechnology, aerospace, and IT. Typically involves a high proportion of skilled labour.

• Medium Tech: Combines advanced and traditional manufacturing, with moderate R&D and technology integration. Common in automotive, chemical, and machinery industries.

• Low Tech: Minimal R&D, reliance on established processes, typically in labour-intensive sectors like textiles, food processing, and basic metal production.

Project Type

• Greenfield (wholly-owned): A new physical project creating new jobs and investment, potentially in a new location within the country.

• Reinvestment: Extension of an existing operation, adding jobs and/or investment, excluding share acquisition or new machinery installation.

• Greenfield (joint-venture): A partnership where two or more companies create a new, independent business. Joint ventures are only included where they lead to a new physical presence.

• New Forms of Investment (NFI): Non-equity modes where a domestic firm partners with a foreign company, involving strategic alliances, licensing, and joint ventures.

• Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A): When a foreign company takes full ownership or merges with a local company through equity transfer, typically without new capital investment or job creation.

Region The source world region of a project, indicating where the ultimate parent company is headquartered.

Country The source country of a project, indicating where the ultimate parent company is headquartered.

Province Indicates the province/emirate/state where the project is located.

City Specifies the city where the project is situated.

Free zone A Free zone, or Special Economic Zone, is an area in a country that is subject to different economic regulations than other regions within the same country. The SEZ economic regulations tend to be conducive to - and attract - FDI. When a country or individual conducts business in an SEZ, there are typically additional economic advantages for them, including tax incentives and the opportunity to pay lower tariffs.

Capex Capital expenditure (capex) reflects the total investment from all involved parties. For phased investments, the initial amount is recorded.

Jobs Created This is the number of direct jobs generated by the investing company at the project site, excluding construction and supply chain jobs.

Data Sources Data is primarily gathered by fDi Markets from publicly available sources:

• Financial Times newswires and internal information
• Thousands of global media sources
• Over 2,000 industry organisations and investment promotion agencies
• Purchased data from market research firms

Each project is cross-referenced against multiple sources, with an emphasis on direct company data, including decision-making contacts. Financial Times Ltd is not responsible for the accuracy of this data.

Data Publication Data is collected in real time as announced by companies, undergoing rigorous quality control before monthly publication. Data is frequently revised as new information becomes available, including updates to jobs and investment figures.