Brussels, 25/06/2009 (Agence Europe) - According to estimates published at the OECD ministerial meeting in Paris on 24-25 June, foreign direct investment (FDI) in 17 OECD countries, including Germany, France, the United Kingdom and the United States, fell by 50% in the first quarter of 2009, compared with the last quarter of 2008. If this drop were to continue at the same rate until the end of the year, FDI in the 30 OECD countries would fall to US $500 billion, compared with $1020 billion in 2008. The fall is, in large part, due to the fall in the value of merger and acquisition investment in OECD countries - a 60% reduction is estimated for 2009, down to US $439 billion compared with €1000 billion in 2008. The FDI flows from the major emerging economies (Brazil, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and South Africa) have also fallen sharply: their investment in the form of mergers and acquisitions is likely to shrink by 80% if current trends are confirmed, dropping from US $120 billion to $21 billion in 2009. (E.H./transl.rt)