10 Business Sectors Most Targeted by Global Investors in the Modern Era

The communications sector has overtaken renewable energy as the top destination for global greenfield foreign direct investment (FDI), according to data from fDi Markets. In 2025, total announced greenfield FDI reached nearly US$1.1 trillion, demonstrating that companies remain willing to invest in new capacity despite trade tensions, an economic slowdown, and global market volatility.

Communications led all sectors with US$346 billion in announced projects, an 88 per cent increase from the previous year, encompassing 812 projects including 57 megaprojects valued at over US$1 billion each. Renewable energy, which had held the top position for six consecutive years since 2019, fell to second place with US$200 billion, a decline of roughly a quarter from US$264 billion in 2024. This slowdown coincides with shifting policy priorities in major industrial nations, including the United States and the European Union.

The semiconductor industry recorded its highest investment value ever at US$138 billion, driven by the construction of new manufacturing facilities as part of a global effort to diversify supply chains. Major producers like Intel and TSMC announced large-scale capital expenditure. However, 97.5 per cent of greenfield FDI in this sector remains concentrated in North America and Asia-Pacific.

Other notable sectors include property, which attracted US$112 billion—its highest level since 2018—and transport and warehousing, which secured US$58 billion in announced projects expected to create nearly 145,000 jobs. In contrast, investment in coal, oil, and gas fell by 31.3 per cent to US$61 billion, marking a second consecutive year of decline. The data indicates that global capital flows are increasingly directed towards communications infrastructure, chip manufacturing, and sectors supporting digital transformation.