CFIS 24 Background Paper on Panel: Investment Screening and Economic Security in the Majority World

Prepared by Liam McGrath, CFIS 24 Programme Sherpa and Law Student at Uppsala University

The purpose of this Paper is to set the scene and provide the state of play and background information to the participants in the Panel.

Balancing Growth and Security: Developing countries must attract foreign investment for growth while protecting critical assets from foreign control, avoiding economic vulnerability and exploitation.

Investment Screening: There’s a shift from merely attracting FDI with incentives to implementing investment screening mechanisms to safeguard national interests without deterring beneficial investments.

Domestic capabilities and cooperation: Strengthening domestic infrastructure and capabilities, along with regional cooperation, is crucial for
enhancing economic security and resilience.