Foreign direct investment (FDI) around the world increased 29% last year and soared 38% in developed countries, according to United Nations Conference on Trade and Development. The data also revealed that FDI in developing countries rose by about 13% last year, following a whopping 41% in 2004, bringing the dollar amount to a record high. The figures show that the U.K. was the single greatest recipient of FDI, with record inflows of $219 billion, twice that of the U.S. FDI inflows to oil-producing nations of Africa also hit a record, an estimated $29 billion. FDI flows to Asia climbed 11%, but were flat in China for the first time in six years.
