FDI continues to play a pivotal role in global economic growth, facilitating the flow of international capital, innovation, and expertise into both emerging and established markets.
Governments and private enterprises alike rely on FDI to create jobs, expand industrial capacity, and foster sustainable economic development. Governments often struggle to match credible investors with viable, strategic projects. At the same time, corporations navigating new markets are required to assess regulatory environments, incentive schemes, and location-specific considerations—all of which demand a deep understanding of local conditions and institutional readiness. Strengthening the capacity of investment promotion entities is, therefore, a vital step in bridging these gaps.
A crucial measure for enhancing FDI inflows is building the capacity of both national investment promotion officers, who serve as the primary contacts to the global investment landscape, and diplomatic missions, which act as official representatives of their countries abroad. Accordingly, equipping both officers and diplomats with the necessary knowledge and tools is essential.
In this context, the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) launched a wide-reaching capacity-building initiative in 2025, which ITI was awarded the mandate to deliver, bringing together national investment promotion agencies and diplomatic missions from its 21 member states: Burundi, Comoros, Democratic Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eswatini, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritius, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tunisia, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe.
The programme targeted national investment promotion officers and diplomatic missions, two groups that play a vital role in shaping investment outcomes. Investment promotion officers serve as the primary interface between investors and national institutions, while diplomats represent their countries abroad and increasingly act as outward-facing investment ambassadors. The initiative focused on equipping both groups with advanced skills in investment promotion, enhancing their understanding of the diplomatic role in FDI attraction, and highlighting the growing potential of diaspora direct investment.
Dual Mandate: Public-Sector Readiness and Corporate Expansion
ITI’s portfolio reflects a dual focus. On the public-sector side, the consultancy designs data-driven FDI attraction strategies, supports institutional capacity-building for investment promotion agencies and diplomats, and advises on site-readiness to ensure that infrastructure, regulatory frameworks, and incentives meet investor requirements. Strategic matchmaking has become a central element of ITI’s work, connecting credible investors with high-impact industrial, energy, logistics, and technology projects across the region.
For multinational corporations, ITI provides market entry guidance and full site-selection support, including market analysis, benchmarking, incentive evaluation and negotiation, and operational set-up. The firm’s sector-specific advisory services span advanced manufacturing, energy, logistics, technology, and other high-growth industries.
ITI works exclusively with governments, international organisations, and economic zones, designing and implementing tailored FDI strategies to attract high-value, sustainable investment. On the other hand, ITI works with large multinational corporations to support their site selection processes, a structured methodology encompassing market analysis, location benchmarking, incentive evaluation, and final investment decision-making.
“We sit at the axis between investors and jurisdictions.”
Speaking on the company’s role, Omar Eleish, CEO of ITI, stated: “We sit at the axis between investors seeking growth and jurisdictions seeking opportunity, turning connections into impactful projects that create jobs, enhance competitiveness, and elevate economic value.”
Eleish, an economist, MD at ITI, and Consultant at the World Bank Group’s Investment Climate Department, leads the firm’s engagements across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, supported by a selection of FDI experts, a network of institutional partners, and sector specialists. Under Eleish’s leadership, ITI has built an extensive network of institutional partners and sector specialists, enabling the firm to bring best practices in economic consultancy.
Review the publicly announced projects, partnerships, and insights on ITI’s website at www.integrating-economies.de.
As investment flows into Africa and the Middle East continue to rise, ITI emphasises its commitment to enabling sustainable, high-impact development. The firm works with governments seeking to attract FDI, as well as companies exploring international expansion, aiming to provide personalised, high-precision advisory services that maximise economic outcomes.
With the regional focus and tailored approach, ITI positions itself as a strategic partner for organisations seeking to unlock long-term investment opportunities across Africa, the Middle East, and the broader EMEA region.
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