According to greenfield FDI monitor fDi Markets, the number of office openings in the sales, marketing and support (SMS) sector of the alternative and renewable energy sector declined globally between January 2010 and December 2014. A total of 182 offices were opened by 133 investing companies, creating 3279 jobs in the period.

In 2010, a total of 54 SMS projects were recorded in the sector, with 1039 jobs created by 42 investing companies. During 2011, 47 office openings were recorded in the alternative and renewable energy sector with the creation of 765 jobs by 41 investing companies. During 2012, a total of 30 SMS projects were recorded, with the creation of 598 jobs by 23 investing companies. In 2013, project numbers increased by 3.33% and investing companies by 8.7%, signifying a brief recovery compared with 2012 figures. However, the number of jobs created continued to fall with a 5.96% decrease by this measure. During 2014, 20 projects were recorded, resulting in the creation of 313 jobs by 17 investing companies. Comparing 2014 to 2010 figures shows a 62.96% drop in projects recorded, a 69.87% decrease in jobs created and a 59.52% decline in companies investing.

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The first five months of data available in 2015 shows seven alternative and renewable energy sector SMS office openings by seven investing companies, resulting in the creation of 109 jobs. Compared with the same period in 2014, these figures represent a 12.5% drop in project numbers and a 14.2% decrease in jobs created, with same number of companies investing. Based on the data from the first five months of the year, it would appear unlikely that FDI project numbers with this sector and business function will surpass 2014 totals. 

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