The World Investment Report (WIR) is the leading publication on global trends and development relating to foreign direct investment (FDI) and transnational corporations (TNCs). The report analyzes the geography of FDI, patterns and shifts in the distribution of FDI at the national, regional and international levels. WIR 2001 focuses on the issue of linkages between foreign affiliates of transnational corporations and local companies in developing countries as a means to enhance the competitiveness of the enterprise sector. The report identifies best practices in the area of linkage formation and discusses the patterns between foreign affiliates and local firms. WIR 2001 presents a list of the largest transnational corporations of the world, of developing countries and of Central Europe. As in the past years, the report offers useful empirical information and policy analysis for researchers and decision makers in governments and businesses.