The period registering the lowest levels of foreign direct investment was 1985 through 1993, due partly to high inflation and fiscal problems and partly to the restrictions for foreign investors. .
The business environment of this period enhanced the situation due to the macroeconomic conditions and the growing importance of the British economy, which, by that time, experienced an industrial revolution. The main products the British economy exported were: textiles, iron, coal, steel, engineering, and the occupation with shipbuilding. On 1850 the British Industry had the 43% of total world exports and on 1870 the one third (1/3) of it . It was regarded as the center of technological innovation. Moreover the demand of its economy for agricultural products and raw materials led to the evolution of the international economy. So, after 1880, the spread of international business happened in an economic environment that was growing rapidly in a global level. .
We cannot say the same for Japan whose role in outward Foreign Direct Investment was rather insignificant, due to the stage of the economic development. Until 1853 Japan was a close economy where foreign trade was not conducted and until the 1930s the Japanese industry was limited to cotton, silk, textiles and consumer goods.
The general positive climate for FDI was enhanced by the high receptivity to foreign enterprises. Moreover, it was leveraged by the fact that the European Governments induced bilateral collateral treaties in order to reduce any kind of risk and protect the alien property. During the 19th century those measures were hardened and they were gradually enforced to the rest of the world by the expansion of entrepreneurs in other countries and the new colonies around the world.
There was also an increase of direct investment in minerals. Many European companies expanded their business across national borders. Another example, are Swiss companies which were specialized in manufacturing of cotton in the German field.