New Delhi, June 17 -- The World Bank issued a call for developing economies to reduce foreign direct investment restrictions and strengthen international cooperation as global FDI flows reached their lowest levels in nearly two decades.

The multilateral institution released its findings Monday in a comprehensive report examining declining investment trends worldwide.

Foreign direct investment into emerging market and developing economies has fallen to levels not seen since 2005, according to the World Bank's report titled 'Foreign Direct Investment in Retreat, Policies to Turn the Tide.'

The decline reflects broader global patterns, with high-income countries experiencing their lowest FDI levels since 1996, recording just USD 336 billi...