UN AI Governance Talk Opens as Global FDI Rises Unevenly, Africa Gets $70bn

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres opened the first Global Dialogue on AI Governance in Geneva on July 6, 2026. On the same day, UNCTAD reported that worldwide foreign direct investment (FDI) grew 6.0% in 2025 to $1.6 trillion after two years of decline, but warned the recovery is narrow, fragile and uneven. The increase was driven mainly by a few megaprojects, especially AI-related infrastructure such as data centres, followed by oil and gas and semiconductors, while most other sectors saw subdued activity. Twenty countries captured over 80% of global FDI, with developed economies inflows up 11% and developing economies up only 2%. Africa received about $70 billion, Latin America and the Caribbean $188 billion, and developing Asia $644 billion. The world’s poorest and least developed countries saw inflows rise 21% to $43 billion, just 2.7% of the total, concentrated in a handful of resource-rich economies. UNCTAD also noted 229 new investment policy measures last year, many aimed at steering capital toward strategic industries. For Nigeria and Africa, the data highlights a continued gap in capturing high‑value, technology‑driven investment, raising risks of being left behind as global capital becomes more concentrated and tech‑intensive.

Will Nigeria attract AI‑related investment or risk being left behind as capital flows concentrate in a few countries and sectors?

SOURCE: https://www.channelstv.com/2026/07/07/foreign-investments-rebound-but-recovery-uneven-un/