Bloomberg Media
Foreign Direct
Investor Outlook
2025
Rebalancing in Real Time:
How Shocks Are Shaping the
Global Investment Landscape
Bloomberg FDI Study Wave 7
July 2025
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Bloomberg Media
Foreign Direct Investor Outlook 2025
Now in its 7th wave, Bloomberg Mediaʼs
FDI Outlook explores the global state
of foreign direct investment amid
rising macroeconomic and
geopolitical uncertainty.
This yearʼs study examines
the key risks and drivers
shaping FDI, from ESG
commitments and supply
chains to nearshoring and
strategic opportunities.
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Bloomberg Media
Foreign Direct Investor Outlook 2025
The research covers
31 key markets across
six regions:
North America, Latin
America, Europe, MENA,
Sub-Saharan Africa,
and Asia Pacific.
Sample size Field work Sample criteria
N = 2600
Conducted between Senior decision-makers
May 21 and June 11, 2025 directly involved in their
organizationʼs FDI strategy
and engaged with
international news.
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Investors are paying attention
to rising market risks
Risks that affect investment decisions in
new territories
Investors are on edge
Political instability and safety fears have surged Political
instability 42% +5 pp ↑
to the top of the risk list, with sharp increases
since 2023. Safety and
security risks 37% +7 pp
Corruption, trade barriers, and crumbling
infrastructure are also gaining ground making Inflation/
new markets feel more volatile, and less exchange rate 34% -2 pp
fluctuations
investable.
Poor economic
performance 30% +1 pp ↑
Corruption 29% +4 pp
Source: Bloomberg Global FDI study 2025, 2025 W7 N1978
Indicates statistical significance since 2023 at 95% confidence level ↓ ↑
Q And what are the key risks that can affect your investment decisions in new territories?
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Pessimism surges, Investor nerves are showing
optimism persists Optimism has plunged to its lowest point since 2020, while pessimism has
surged 11 points following new U.S. tariffs.
For the first time in five years, bullish and bearish views are evenly split
signaling a pivotal shift from confident expansion to strategic caution.
Opinion on the global economy, 2019 2025
Source: Bloomberg Global FDI study 2025, 2025 W7 N2080, W6 N2600; 2023 N2089
Q Overall, are you more or less optimistic about the global economy than you were last year? Note: In W7, question wording was updated to “compared to January 2025ˮ rather than “than you were last yearˮ as used in all previous waves.
Tracked markets 2023 and 2025 Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, Mexico, Netherlands, Singapore, Spain, UK, US.
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Uncertainty fails to deter bold
investor expansion plans
Plan to expand operations internationally in
next 13 years
Investors arenʼt backing down
-1 pp vs W6
Even after major U.S. trade disruptions,
global appetite for growth holds steady as 12%
76% still plan to expand internationally.
12%
76%
-1pp vs.
January 2025
Source: Bloomberg Global FDI study 2025, Total W7 N2600, W6 N3250; Asia Pacific W7 N 800., W6 N =
1,000; Europe W7 N 800, W6 N 1,000; North America W7 320, W6 N 400; LATAM W7 N 320, W6 N
= 400; MENA W7 N 227, W6 N 283; Sub-Saharan Africa W7 N 133, W6 N 167 Yes No Not sure
Q Do you plan to expand operations internationally in the next 13 years?
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AI fuels ambitious growth
plans in developing markets
AI as a business opportunity
Developing vs Developed countries
The next tech boom may not come from
where you expect. 49%
Nearly half of investors in developing markets
see AI as a key opportunity far outpacing their 42%
peers in developed economies. 39%
Regional momentum is strongest in
Latin America, and MENA
Interest in AI is highest in Latin America 53%
and Sub-Saharan where investors are especially
likely to see it as a business opportunity.
Adopting of AI for productivity improvement
Source: Bloomberg Global FDI study 2025, 2025 W7 AI as a business opportunity
Developed N 1760 / Developing N 840; Advanced technology Developed N 1275 / Developing N 710
Q And which of the following present an opportunity for your business in the next 1 to 3 years? Total Developed countries Developing countries
Q Which of these industries are you considering for foreign direct investment in the next 13 years?
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North America blinks on ESG Currently integrate ESG into FDI strategy
while others surge ahead by region
54%
Asia Pacific 40%
7%
53%
Europe 39%
ESG is slipping especially in
9%
North America
43%
Integration has dropped 8 points overall, North America 45%
as immediate pressures push sustainability 12%
down the priority list. LATAM and MENA are
70%
still leading, but in North America, just 43% of LATAM 28%
businesses currently embed ESG in their FDI 2%
strategies. The intent to act is rising but the gap
69%
between ambition and execution is growing. MENA 28%
2%
Sub-Saharan 60%
Africa 37%
3%
Source: Bloomberg Global FDI study 2025, 2025 W6 Total N 3,250; Asia Pacific N 1,000;
Europe N 1,000; North America N 400; LATAM N 400; MENA N 283; Sub-Saharan Africa N 167
Q Do you currently integrate ESG Environmental, Social and Corporate Governance) into your foreign direct Yes No, but plan to do it in the future No
investment strategy?
Bloomberg Media
Letʼs connect.
To learn more, please reach out to:
Svetlana Beļacka
[email protected]
Global Lead Analyst
