Dr. Supachai spoke at a high-level forum on investment at the UNCTAD XII quadrennial conference.  He noted that most of the world's staggering US$1.3 trillion in international investment flows goes to the quickly growing Asian economies. If more can be sent to less-developed countries, it could give them a major boost towards linking into the global economy, he said.

For their part, to capture such investment, countries must make astute decisions about how they wish to develop and should set up well-designed plans to achieve these goals, Dr. Supachai said.

He said UNCTAD would encourage better strategies for linking investment flows with outcomes that broadly raise living standards in developing countries, such as increased employment.