Data from greenfield investment monitor fDi Markets shows that there has been a slow but steady increase in manufacturing FDI into Europe following a slump in 2009. Between January 2003 and May 2012, a total of 10,635 such FDI projects were recorded in the region, accounting for 7.7% of manufacturing projects globally. Investments peaked in 2008, when 1345 projects were recorded, with capital expenditure of $112bn resulting in the creation of 288,637 jobs.

From 2008, however, FDI into European manufacturing has been significantly lower. There was a 40% decline in project numbers in 2009 compared to 2008, when just 800 projects were recorded. Capital expenditure also dropped to $60.57bn and job creation fell to 181,718. Since 2009, manufacturing has increased slightly year on year – with 993 and 1028 projects being recorded in 2010 and 2011, respectively – but has failed as yet to reach the high levels seen in 2008.

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In terms of source countries, the largest number of projects have come from the US with a total of 1791 between January 2003 and May 2012. In terms of companies, Switzerland-based Nestlé has recorded a total of 75 manufacturing investments in the region in this period, followed closely by Germany-based Volkswagen, which made 70 investments, and Luxembourg-based ArcelorMittal, which invested in 65 projects. However, Volkswagen accounts for the highest numbers of new jobs, having created 72,407 jobs in manufacturing in Europe between 2003 and 2012.

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