An investment promotion agency (IPA) is mostly a government entity (or sometimes a nonprofit organization that operates similarly to a chamber of commerce or business consulting firm) whose mission is to attract investment to a country, state, region or city. They achieve this through marketing activities that generate awareness about a place as an attractive destination for investment.[1]​ In general, IPAs have four main functions: construction of the image of the country receiving investment, generation of investment, project management and aftercare services. While IPAs play an important role in attracting investment to developed countries,[2] some of them also have an additional advocacy or promotional function.

IPAs achieve this by introducing investors to local suppliers (raw materials or other inputs), providing useful statistical data and business information, such as macroeconomic indicators (GNP, GDP, HDI, inflation, etc.), labor productivity, average wages and attractive sectors of the national economy. It also provides practical support, such as obtaining permits or fulfilling other administrative obligations, and is responsible for managing any investment incentives that the city, state or country may offer to foreign investors (companies or individuals).[3]​.