Aggressive Predator or Passive Investor: Multinationals in the Mining Industry - A Case Study in an Emerging Country

This paper is a case study of foreign direct investment in a large gold mine in a developing country, Kyrgyzstan, located in Central Asia. Using a cost-benefit economic framework, this exploratory study addresses the investment and income stream for the foreign investor, Cameco Corporation, a leading Canadian multinational enterprise, as well as the economic and financial net benefits for the host country. Related issues in the case include analysis of the resource curse, the limited development of institutions and property laws in the host country, and the impact of this mining project on incoming foreign direct investment in Kyrgyzstan.