Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Land in developing countries

41Table 7: Country profile - LaosOverall domestic background: Economy, Agriculture, Food security, Poverty and Environment(1) Economic situationGDP per capita, 2008, US$ (a) 858Official Development aid (ODA),2007, US$ million (b) 396ODA in agriculture, forestry and fishery (b)Commitments 2007, US$ millionDisbursements 2007, US$ millionShare of population below poverty line (2 US$ per day, average 2000-2006) (c) 76.8%(2) Relevance of agricultureShare in GDP (2007) (d) 42%Share of agriculture employment (e) 75% (2006)(3) Food securityGlobal Hunger Index (GHI), 2008 (f) 20.6GHI-Ranking (out of 88 countries), 2008 (f) 57Share of undernourished population (f) 19%Food aid, 2008, ‘000 t, cereals in grain equivalent (g) 16.8As country in crisis according to FAO (2009) (h)NoValue of food import minus export, 2006, US$ million (i) -163(4) Environment/ BiodiversityProtected area, % of total area 2003 (k) 18,8%Forestry area, % of total area 2005 (l) 69,9%Deforestation rate (annual change in forest covered area, within 2000-05) (i) -0,5%Fire cultivationNo dataOverall investment climate(1) Climate for FDI (m)Ease of doing business (rank of 181 countries) 165Protecting investors (rank of 181 countries) 180Enforcing contracts (rank of 181 countries) 111(2) Corruption (n)CPI ranking (rank of 181 countries), 2008 (2007) 151 (168)(3) Share of FDI in agriculture in % of all FDI average (o)US State Department Climate Statements 2009 (o) 31% Average Jan 2000 - Sep 2008World Investment Report 2009 2005 – 2007 (p) 12% Average 2005-2007Legal Frame(1) Multi- and bilateral frame (q)WTO rules applicable?not, not memberBITs in force with major FDI in land investor countriesAll investors included(2) Domestic frame (q)Major legal basis4936Law on the Promotion of ForeignInvestments from 2004