But Avis's big expansion plans (from the current ten rental stations in China to 70 by 2008) are largely driven by demand from businesses with a large share of foreign investment.

ECONOMIST: Cars in China

EU, its share of foreign direct investment fell sharply in 2002, according to preliminary estimates from the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

ECONOMIST: Britain and the euro

The Republic of Ireland attracts a large share of EU foreign direct investment (FDI) due to its 12.5% flat rate of tax on profits.

BBC: Eurozone to consider closer economic scrutiny

Despite the takeover of most British investment banks by foreign houses, the domestic distribution of new share issues is still tightly controlled by local corporate brokers.

ECONOMIST: Investment banking

Panama's import tariffs are among the lowest in Latin America, and the country has received foreign direct investment worth nearly 9% of GDP, the largest share on the continent.

ECONOMIST: Panama's economy

Since the Soviet Union collapsed, Belarus has received little foreign investment, and has not privatised much: the state's share of the economy, already around 80%, is, if anything, growing.

ECONOMIST: Belarus

They are seeing their market share erode in favour of the big, usually foreign, investment banks.

ECONOMIST: Hong Kong's stock exchange

The U.S. global development policy and the G-20 development plan share the goal of helping countries reduce their dependence on foreign assistance by mobilizing foreign investment and domestic capital to foster sustained economic growth.

WHITEHOUSE: The White House

The surge in share prices on Wall Street over the past three years has lured in foreign investors and reduced overseas investment by Americans, thereby boosting the dollar.

ECONOMIST: The dollar