Realizing the Potential of FDI to Diversify Lesotho's Exports : An Assessment of the Key Opportunities and Constraints

This policy note assesses the potential of foreign direct investment (FDI) to diversify Lesotho s exports. Lesotho must preserve capacity to produce more and better goods, seek new markets, preserve existing manufacturing jobs, undertake structural...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Gillson, Ian, Feda, Kebede
Format: Policy Note
Language:English
en_US
Published: World Bank, Washington, DC 2014
Subjects:
EPZ
GDP
Online Access:http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2009/08/16712672/realizing-potential-fdi-diversify-lesothos-exports-assessment-key-opportunities-constraints
http://hdl.handle.net/10986/18895
Description
Summary:This policy note assesses the potential of foreign direct investment (FDI) to diversify Lesotho s exports. Lesotho must preserve capacity to produce more and better goods, seek new markets, preserve existing manufacturing jobs, undertake structural and institutional reforms, and take advantage of its location inside South Africa. Given the low savings in the country, as well as major fiscal challenges arising from declines in SACU revenues which leave fewer resources for public investments, and most crucially the need for international entrepreneurial know-how, the prospects for growth in new sectors will depend on the country s ability to attract new foreign direct investments, particularly from South Africa. This note also addresses the policy and structural constraints that must be overcome to attract FDI.