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Advancing Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion in Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN (Part 1): Gender Equality, Disability, and Social Inclusion Gap Analysis in Foreign Direct Investment in ASEAN

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This report examines how foreign direct investment (FDI) in ASEAN can be better aligned with gender equality, disability inclusion and social inclusion (GEDSI) objectives. As ASEAN continues to attract significant FDI inflows, the report argues that the policy question is no longer only how much investment the region attracts, but what kind of investment, who participates in the opportunities it creates, and how benefits are distributed. Focusing on the role of Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs), the report applies four diagnostic lenses, access, agency, institutional norms and structural barriers, across the FDI cycle, including promotion, attraction, facilitation and aftercare. It identifies recurring gaps related to the visibility of underrepresented enterprises and communities, participation in investment-related decision-making, performance measurement and follow-through on inclusion commitments. The report highlights aftercare as a critical but under-resourced stage for tracking long-term GEDSI outcomes and sets out institutional entry points for more inclusive investment promotion practice.