A UN report has said, major global companies consider India their third most favoured destination after China and the United States and investment inflows could increase by more than 20 per cent both this year and the next.

Releasing the UNCTAD's World Investment Report 2012, Mr. Nagesh Kumar, Chief Economist, United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific said, Foreign direct investment (FDI) flows into India leapt 30 per cent to nearly 32 billion dollar in 2011. He said, though held back by slow pace of reforms, it still remains a long way down the league table of FDI recipients. China drew 124 billion dollar last year, while Brazil attracted nearly 67 billion and Russia 53 billion dollar.

Some 179 global companies – from the manufacturing, services and primary sectors – were surveyed between February and May, on their favoured investment destinations for 2012 to 2014. Mr. Kumar said FDI growth seems to be keeping its momentum in 2012.