VOA常速英语2007-UN Finds Widespread Growth in Foreign Direct Inv

By Lisa Schlein
Geneva
16 October 2007

A new report finds growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) last year was the largest since 2000 and occurred in all regions of the world.  In its annual World Investment Report, the U.N. Conference on Trade and Development says the developing countries and transition economies of the former Soviet¹ Union broke all records in attracting the highest FDI inflows ever.  Lisa Schlein reports for VOA from UNCTAD headquarters in Geneva.

The report says foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2006 amounted to more than $1.3 trillion, rising more than 38 percent over the previous year.  It says this is slightly less than the record level achieved in 2000.

It says foreign direct investment to developed countries rose by 45 percent to reach $857 billion.  It says the United States regained² its position as the leading host country for FDI followed by Britain and France.

UNCTAD says FDI to developing countries and former Soviet economies attained³ their highest levels ever.  It notes China, Hong Kong and Singapore received the most FDI among developing countries and Russia led the pack among transition countries.

For the first time in seven years, the report says FDI in China declined in 2006.  But, chief of UNCTAD's Investment Analysis Branch, Anne Miroux, calls the decrease relatively⁴ small.

"For 2007, our preliminary estimate is that for China the level of FDI will remain more or less the same," she said.  "And, it is still a huge amount.  It is between $69 billion and $70 billion.  So, one has to interpret the lower flows to China with a pinch of salt, I would say."

UNCTAD economists⁵ say rising demand, especially from Asia, for oil, gas, and metals has spurred an investment boom in mineral exploration and extraction.  They say those industries are largely responsible for the recent increases in FDI in many mineral-rich developing countries, notably⁶ in Africa.

UNCTAD Secretary-General Supachai Panitchpakdi says several of the world's poorest countries have benefited from the rise in commodity prices and increased interest in the extractive industries.

"We are quite pleased to see that countries like Chad, Equatorial Guinea, and Mali are now being included in the group of recipients⁷ of FDI, particularly they are LDCs [Least Developed Countries]," he noted⁸.         

The report says transnational corporations from developed countries remain the leading sources of FDI.  They account for 84 percent of the global outflows in 2006.

UNCTAD argues the commodities boom should provide opportunities for development and poverty alleviation⁹ in mineral-exporting countries.  But, it warns the money generated from extractive industries can have both positive and negative effects.

It says both the host countries and the transnational corporations must not trample¹⁰ on the environment or the social and human rights of local communities in their rush to make profits.

1 Soviet   

adj.苏联的，苏维埃的；n.苏维埃

参考例句：

• Zhukov was a marshal of the former Soviet Union.朱可夫是前苏联的一位元帅。
• Germany began to attack the Soviet Union in 1941.德国在1941年开始进攻苏联。

2 regained   

复得( regain的过去式和过去分词 )； 赢回； 重回； 复至某地

参考例句：

• The majority of the people in the world have regained their liberty. 世界上大多数人已重获自由。
• She hesitated briefly but quickly regained her poise. 她犹豫片刻，但很快恢复了镇静。

3 attained   

（通常经过努力）实现( attain的过去式和过去分词 )； 达到； 获得； 达到（某年龄、水平、状况）

参考例句：

• She has attained the degree of Master of Arts. 她已获得文学硕士学位。
• Lu Hsun attained a high position in the republic of letters. 鲁迅在文坛上获得崇高的地位。

4 relatively   

adv.比较...地，相对地

参考例句：

• The rabbit is a relatively recent introduction in Australia.兔子是相对较新引入澳大利亚的物种。
• The operation was relatively painless.手术相对来说不痛。

5 economists   

n.经济学家，经济专家( economist的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The sudden rise in share prices has confounded economists. 股价的突然上涨使经济学家大惑不解。
• Foreign bankers and economists cautiously welcomed the minister's initiative. 外国银行家和经济学家对部长的倡议反应谨慎。 来自《简明英汉词典》

6 notably   

adv.值得注意地，显著地，尤其地，特别地

参考例句：

• Many students were absent,notably the monitor.许多学生缺席，特别是连班长也没来。
• A notably short,silver-haired man,he plays basketball with his staff several times a week.他个子明显较为矮小，一头银发，每周都会和他的员工一起打几次篮球。

7 recipients   

adj.接受的；受领的；容纳的；愿意接受的n.收件人；接受者；受领者；接受器

参考例句：

• The recipients of the prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者的姓名登在报上。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The recipients of prizes had their names printed in the paper. 获奖者名单登在报上。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》

8 noted   

adj.著名的，知名的

参考例句：

• The local hotel is noted for its good table.当地的那家酒店以餐食精美而著称。
• Jim is noted for arriving late for work.吉姆上班迟到出了名。

9 alleviation   

n. 减轻，缓和，解痛物

参考例句：

• These were the circumstances and the hopes which gradually brought alleviation to Sir Thomas's pain. 这些情况及其希望逐渐缓解了托马斯爵士的痛苦。
• The cost reduction achieved in this way will benefit patients and the society in burden alleviation. 集中招标采购降低的采购成本要让利于患者，减轻社会负担。 来自英汉 - 翻译样例 - 口语

10 trample   

vt.踩，践踏；无视，伤害，侵犯

参考例句：

• Don't trample on the grass. 勿踏草地。
• Don't trample on the flowers when you play in the garden. 在花园里玩耍时,不要踩坏花。