In early 2003, the Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency conducted a study to determine and compare operating costs and conditions in six Asian countries for two industry sectors that are regionally strong in foreign direct investment. The two industries – electronics manufacturing and shared services – were analyzed in China, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. This study, the pilot for a broader benchmarking program, yielded findings across a range of critical factors which helped the countries involved assess their FDI competitiveness and identified sector-specfic issues for government policy action. In addition, the study refined an analytical methodology which can be utilized by investment promotion intermediaries in MIGA's developing member countries to collect accurate cost and condition information for prospective investors and benchmark their priority sectors against regional competitors.

The study and its results are summarized in this report, published in October 2003 and now available in PDF format for downloading from this web site. The report is presented in three parts: Study and Analysis Overview; Country and Sector Findings; and Appendices, including tables of detailed findings by factor.

MIGA's techncial assistance unit has since been merged into FIAS.