FDI in Singapore up in 2018 despite slowdown in global flows

Singapore

FOREIGN direct investments (FDI) continued to flow into Singapore last year, even when global FDI fell for a third straight year to its lowest since the 2008 global financial crisis.

FDI in Singapore jumped from US$76 billion in 2017 to US$78 billion in 2018, lifting Singapore by one placing to 4th in the top 10 world rankings of FDI destinations, according to the World Investment Report 2019 issued by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The US again tops the ranking despite a drop in FDI to US$252 billion, from US$277 billion in 2017. China, where FDI rose from US$134 billion to US$139 billion in the past two years, remains in second position.

Investments flowing out of Singapore however dipped from US$44 billion in 2017 to US$37 billion last year, dragging Singapore down two placings to 10th in the top 10 ranking of global foreign direc…