2012 Reports

State-controlled entities control nearly US$ 2 trillion in foreign assets

Sauvant, Karl P.; Strauss, Jonathan

State-controlled entities (SCEs) -- especially state-owned enterprises (SOEs) -- are important players in the world FDI market. Among the 100 largest MNEs from developed countries and the 100 largest from emerging markets, at least 49 are SOEs. They control nearly US$ 2 trillion in foreign assets, the bulk of them by MNEs headquartered in developed countries. Care needs to be exercised that regulatory initiatives regarding SCEs do not lead to a fragmentation of the international investment law regime.