UNCTAD Virtual Institute - UNCTAD Virtual Institute

First Vi videoconference for Pakistan presents FDI trends from WIR16

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Details: Friday, 30 September 2016 14:44; Pablo Gabriel Bortz

Vi Chief, Vlasta Macku, and UNCTAD's Kalman Kalotay Fifty professors and students gathered at Vi Pakistani core university member, the Institute of Business Administration, for a videoconference on UNCTAD's 2016 World Investment Report (WIR) September 23. The presentation was conducted by Kalman Kalotay, of UNCTAD's Division on Investment and Enterprise.

"Foreign direct investment flows increased after years of fluctuations, reaching USD 1.7 trillion in 2015," he said. "However, that increase was not reflected in higher capital expenditures by large multinationals, which actually fell from USD 2.2 trillion in 2014 to USD 1.9 trillion in 2015."

Regarding the regional distribution of FDI, the WIR reports that eight of the 20 top recipients are developing countries, and six made the top-20 list for outflows.

WIR 16 topic of Vi videoconference for Colombia

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Details: Wednesday, 21 September 2016 16:58; Pablo Bortz

Vi Chief, Vlasta Macku (left) and UNCTAD'S Stephania Bonilla-Féret Thirty-one lecturers and students from Colombian core member, Universidad EAFIT, joined a Vi videoconference presentation of the latest UNCTAD World Investment Report (WIR) September 13. Another 50 or so, from afilliate members, Universidad de La Sabana and Universidad Sergio Arboleda, joined the discussion via webcast.

"Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows increased by 38 percent in 2015,” said report presenter, Stephania Bonilla-Féret, of UNCTAD's Division on Investment and Enterprise. “However, they lacked productive impact, as growth was mainly brought about by a surge in mergers and acquisitions (M&A) driven by corporate reconfigurations, including tax inversion." Discounting these large-scale corporate reconfigurations implies a more moderate increase of about 15 percent, she added.

New Vi online course analyzing impact of NTMs admits 70 participants

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Details: Wednesday, 07 September 2016 17:22; Susana Olivares

Virtual Institute e-learning Vi's latest online course, scheduled October 10 to December 4, attracted a record-breaking 267 applications from lecturers and researchers representing 73 countries around the world. The selection committee extended admission to 70 candidates from 48 developing countries and countries with transition economies.

"We received many interesting applications, but given the limited number of places available, we were unfortunately unable to accommodate all the requests," said Vi Chief, Vlasta Macku.

Azerbaijani university latest Vi affiliate member

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Details: Thursday, 11 August 2016 11:36; Vlasta Macku

Azerbaijan's Western University (WU) joined the Vi as a second university in the country. Vi's 51st affiliate university member is the second to represent the country in the network, along with core member, Azerbaijan State Economic University.

The university membership came after strong recommendation from Emin Teymurov, formerly delegate in charge of UNCTAD at the Permanent Mission of Azerbaijan in Geneva, now working with the Economic Cooperation and Development Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Baku.

Third Kenyan university joins Vi, member count at 130

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Details: Thursday, 04 August 2016 08:04; Vlasta Macku

Kenya's University of Kibabii (KIBU) joined the Virtual Institute today, becoming the 130th institutional member of UNCTAD's programme for academic cooperation.

KIBU's membership was the result of networking with Vi Kenyan affiliate member, Moi University, and the initiative of Muganda Munir Manini, KIBU's chairman of the Departmental Graduate School Committee, who has been a Vi associate member since 2014.

Located in the town of Bungoma in the west of the country, KIBU was established in 2011 to equip graduates equipped with critical knowledge, skills, attitudes and values, and to undertake research that will drive sustainable development and wealth creation for the benefit of the country. Under the motto "Knowledge for Development," KIBU aims to achieve excellence in generation, transmission and enhancement of knowledge in science, technology and innovation through quality teaching, research, consultancy and outreach programmes.