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radioJemima Agyare comments
Developing states are increasingly encouraged through international economic institutions such as the IMF and World Bank to try to make themselves attractive to foreign direct investment (FDI) by lowering tariff barriers and by creating stable political environments for multinational companies (MNCs) to invest.
The relationship between MNCs and developing countries is one that causes huge amounts of controversy. Some view them as benign companies that enhance global efficiency and global wealth- transferring technology and other resources to developing countries, whilst others see them as the faceless side of global capitalism that undermines democracy, national autonomy and promotes exploitation and neo-imperialism.
MNCs are ultimately profit-driven organisations, committed to the growth of trade and markets that serve their commercial interests. I have no objections to this per se however, I do feel that this does not necessarily have to be to the detriment of developing countries as is currently the case. The pursuit of profits is not necessarily incompatible with serving the needs of developing countries, especially their poor. If such companies were able to exercise some kind of moral ethic with regards to their practices, this would go some way in benefiting the host country, as well as the company. I am not merely talking about the token AIDS clinic designed to enhance the public image of the company and slightly appease the critics, but a genuine commitment to social responsibility through their work conduct.
However, until MNCs such as Monsanto and Shell cease employing
aggressive tactics in pursuit of greater market shares and higher
profits, MNCs stand to hinder indigenous technological development,
drain host countries of resources and inhibit the growth of indigenous
entrepreneurship in developing countries. 
Jemima Agyare is a doctoral researcher and politics tutor at The University of Nottingham. Her research investigates the politics and governance of genetically modified agriculture in Africa, focussing on its potential to benefit the poorest. Her main research interest is the intersection between science, technology and development.
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The question of the MNCs and their activities is a complex one. As you indicate, we need their investments. But at the same time they are driven primarily by profit, which is not necessarily bad. The problem is ensuring that the destructive aspects of their activities are minimised. It seems to me that in addition to the MNCs voluntarily changing their practices---which we cannot take for granted they will--- another approach is to create states and civil society in Africa that are able to set the ground rules, or at the very least, monitor the activities of MNCs. In most of the African countries where MNCs operate with impunity, they do so with the connivance of state officials, or the state structures and civil society are simply too weak to offer any resistance.