Technical Assistance
MIGA provides technical assistance to help governments and other intermediaries involved in promoting investment improve their ability to respond effectively to investor needs. Investment promotion intermediaries promote FDI into their countries through a combination of activities, with the goal of generating economic growth and creating jobs.
MIGA’s technical assistance helps investment promotion intermediaries develop their capacity to provide investors with information and advice, with the goal of reducing the transaction costs associated with site selection, as well as helping businesses get started. MIGA is one of the few organizations with the global experience to provide the broad-based package of assistance needed to build the institutional capacity of these agencies, in areas such as strategic planning, marketing, and sector targeting, and improving responsiveness to investor needs through information services. For an overview of the agency’s TA results, see past MIGA Annual Reports.
MIGA’s TA services integrated into FIAS
In March 2007, MIGA’s technical assistance services were integrated into the Foreign Investment Advisory Service, a World Bank Group entity. Combining the investment climate reform work of FIAS with MIGA’s investment promotion work allows the World Bank Group to help countries get the framework right for investment, and then market the improved environment, all from a single platform. It also creates a more coordinated, single interface for clients, donors, and other partners.
Established 20 years ago, FIAS has helped more than 130 countries increase the level and impact of private investments. The FIAS strategy for fiscal years 2008 to 2011 centers around regulatory simplification to make investment less costly, less risky, and more attractive; and investment generation, including investment policy and promotion, and industry-specific approaches to investment.
FIAS aims to develop new products and strategies to promote private investment in frontier countries and fragile states in particular—areas where MIGA has extensive experience. Day-to-day operations of the integrated facility are run by FIAS, with financial contributions from IFC, MIGA, and the World Bank, as well as donors. Senior management from these three World Bank Group institutions comprise a supervisory committee to oversee the activities of FIAS.
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