Foreign investment often evokes strong visceral reactions based on historical associations or geopolitical tensions. To surmount these challenges we propose five reputation levers businesses can pull to build trust and support, connect more closely with the public, and achieve communications cut-through.

Our joint paper presents research we’ve conducted in the US, UK, Argentina and Nigeria on attitudes to foreign direct investment (FDI) generally, and energy investment specifically, providing practical advice to businesses seeking to understand opinion, develop and communicate and mobilise support behind strategic investments.