Ireland was the single biggest recipient of foreign direct investment (FDI) in the world in the first half of this year, according to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). In the second half of 2019, Ireland had been second only to the US in its ability to attract FDI.
As a result of the supply disruption, demand contraction and economic pessimism triggered by Covid-19, overall investment into OECD countries fell 74% in the first six months of 2020, compared with the second half of 2019; total global FDI flows halved over the same period. Outflows from the OECD area also fell, by 43%.
