European investment promotion agencies vis-à-vis multinational companies from emerging economies: Comparative analysis of BRIC investor targeting

Multinational companies from emerging economies are becoming significant players in the globalized world economy. As the volume of foreign direct investment from emerging economies is rising, and emerging multinationals increasingly seek access to markets and assets in advanced developed economies, the host governments feel the need to define their responses and policies. The European Union is emerging as an important destination for outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) from Brazil, Russia, India and China (BRIC). The paper looks at the strategic stance of European national investment promotion agencies (IPAs) towards emerging multinationals from BRIC. It inventorizes promotion efforts of these IPAs tailored to the BRIC companies, such as specifically customized information provision on IPA websites and the presence of IPA representative offices in BRIC. On the basis of comparative analysis, it offers reflections on the challenges and opportunities presented by emerging multinationals to European countries.