The UAE Minister of Economy states that rules for investing in agriculture need to be overhauled as barriers are emerging to the flow of investments around the world. The UAE and GCC are finding difficulties in investing in agriculture overseas, and the minister states that the market needs regulations at an international level for the protection of both the food producing nation and the investors. Agricultural investment has become trickier in recent years. Inflows of global foreign investment dropped 18% to US$1.3 trillion in 2012 driven by faltering and uncertain economic outlook and increased regulations on inflows of foreign capital and trade imposed by governments.