India Ascends to 15th Position Among Top Global FDI Destinations in 2024: UNCTAD Report
New Delhi, June 19, 2025 — India has climbed to the 15th spot in the global rankings of foreign direct investment (FDI) destinations in 2024, according to the latest World Investment Report released by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD). Despite a challenging global investment environment marked by an 11 percent drop in overall FDI flows, India maintained robust investment inflows of $28 billion for the calendar year 2024, matching its 2023 figures.
Steady FDI Inflows Amid Global Downturn
The report highlights India’s resilience as global foreign direct investment experienced a significant decline. While many countries faced shrinking FDI inflows, India sustained its capital influx, reinforcing its appeal as a preferred investment hub. This steady performance has propelled India up one notch in the global FDI rankings from the previous year.
Data compiled by India’s Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) reveals that FDI equity inflows surged by 13 percent during the fiscal year 2024-25, reaching $50 billion. Furthermore, Reserve Bank of India (RBI) estimates indicate that net FDI flows, excluding repatriation, stood at approximately $29 billion for the same period. Noted economist and distinguished professor Biswajit Dhar from the Council for Social Development remarked that UNCTAD’s methodology aligns with RBI’s calendar-year reporting of net FDI inflows.
Strong Greenfield Investments and Project Finance Activity
India continues to demonstrate strong momentum in greenfield investments—the projects that create new facilities or expand existing operations. The country retained its 4th position globally in terms of greenfield project announcements, highlighting sustained investor confidence in new industrial ventures and infrastructure developments.
However, India witnessed a minor slip from 2nd to 5th place in international project finance (IPF) deals, tallying 97 deals in 2024. UNCTAD’s report explains this divergence as a reflection of differing dynamics between industrial investment activities and infrastructure financing worldwide. While greenfield projects saw notable growth particularly in India and the United Arab Emirates, international project finance remained more concentrated among traditional mature markets and some large emerging economies.
Asia’s Leading Position in New Capital Expenditures
India stood out with projected capital expenditures on new projects increasing by more than 25 percent to approximately $110 billion, which constitutes nearly a third of total new investments announced in Asia for 2024. This substantial investment pipeline reinforces India’s role as a key driver of Asia’s economic development.
Developed economies secured 53 percent of the total international private equity investment, while developing Asia attracted 46 percent, with India emerging as the primary recipient within this group. Alongside Brazil and Chile, India hosts over 30 percent of international projects in developing economies, a share that has doubled since before 2018. This growth is partly propelled by robust renewable energy initiatives in these countries.
Major Corporate Investments and Market Developments
The UNCTAD report also points to significant expansions by major technology firms in India. For example, Microsoft committed $3 billion to enhance the country’s cloud computing and artificial intelligence infrastructure, underscoring India’s growing prominence in the tech sector.
Simultaneously, the report notes strategic shifts such as The Walt Disney Company’s partial exit from its Indian operations through a $3 billion merger of its Star India unit with Viacom18 Media, forming a joint venture primarily owned by Indian stakeholders. Additionally, several international pharmaceutical operations in India transitioned to local ownership amid a broader decline in cross-border mergers and acquisitions in developing Asia.
Global FDI Landscape: U.S. Retains Lead; China Sees Decline
Globally, the United States maintained its position as the largest FDI recipient, followed by Singapore and Hong Kong, which both advanced one rank. China experienced a decline, dropping to the fourth position with FDI inflows decreasing to $116 billion from $163 billion in 2023. Looking Ahead
UNCTAD’s World Investment Report 2025 offers critical insights into ongoing international investment trends. India’s steady FDI inflows, growing greenfield activity, and increased capital expenditure commitments indicate its sustained attractiveness to foreign investors, even as global investment conditions remain uncertain.
As the country continues to strengthen its investment climate and policy frameworks, India is well positioned to enhance its standing as a premier destination in the global FDI landscape.
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