Direct investment is:

A) building significant facilities in another country in order to do business there or in nearby countries.
B) purchasing the stocks of foreign companies directly from those companies.
C) setting up sales offices in foreign countries.
D) exporting product to other countries.

Direct investment involves building significant facilities in another country, such as factories or offices, in order to do business there or in nearby countries. This is different from other methods such as setting up sales offices or exporting products, as it involves a more significant investment and commitment to the foreign market. Purchasing stocks directly from foreign companies is also a type of investment, but it is not considered direct investment as it does not involve building physical infrastructure.