Foreign direct investments, stocks, 1998-2003

After an almost flat growth in the foreign direct investments from 2001 to 2002, the investments continued to increase in 2003.

Norway's part of the equity capital in foreign enterprises amounted to NOK 522.7 billion at the end of 2003. Net claims stood at NOK 30.4 billion.

Roughly 80 per cent of the outward direct investments were placed in European countries and North America, with Sweden, the UK, the USA, Denmark, the Netherlands, Canada and Germany being the main destinations for Norwegian foreign investments.

The return on foreign direct investment is defined as investor's share of retained earnings, plus dividend payments and net interest income. In 2003, this sum amounted to NOK 21 billion.

The figures presented here are based on data from the Directorate of Taxes. The survey covers foreign enterprises in which a Norwegian investor has direct ownership of 10 per cent or more of the equity, or indirect ownership of 50 per cent or more. Since investments through the Government Petroleum Fund may not exceed 10 per cent of the share capital in any one company, such investments are not included here.

The figures represent the book values of the enterprises, which can be different from the market values. The FDI statistics is a continuation of Norges Bank's statistics from 1988 to 2000 and replaces previous estimates for the years 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2002

Tables:

• Table 1 Foreign direct investments. 1998-2003. Total. NOK million
• Table 2 Foreign direct investments. Geographical distribution. 1998-2003. Total. NOK million
• Table 3 Foreign direct investments. Industrial distribution. 1998-2003. Total. NOK million
• Table 4 Return on outward direct investments. 1998-2003. Total. NOK million