It is often cited that the BRIC economies – Brazil, Russia, India and China – offer the best opportunities for growth. It would therefore follow that outward FDI flows from these countries are also expanding but only one of the so-called 'big four' appears in the top five countries in terms of outward FDI growth.

The republic of Macedonia has undergone a radical transformation in recent years thanks to its government's efforts to revitalise the country's economy, business environment and the look of its capital city, Skopje. The result is new buildings, new businesses and record inflows of FDI.

While some IT hotspots in central and eastern Europe are overheating, with rising demand leading to a hike in wage expectations, Macedonia is positioning itself to take advantage, investing in developing the IT expertise of its graduates and establishing a business incubator to assist new businesses.

The service levels shown to foreign companies locating in Macedonia's free zones have come as a pleasant surprise to even the most seasoned of professionals, giving the country a further competitive advantage on top of its tax incentives and cheap labour.

Economic free zones, political stability and diversification have fuelled development and growth in Sharjah – the emirate now accounts for one-third of the UAE's manufacturing sector – but its government has further plans to maximise its appeal to international investors. 

With its good business climate, highly educated workforce and large neighbouring countries, Finland should be easily marketable to investors but, according to the country's president Sauli Niinisto, the country needs to work harder at promoting its merits and pushing for more inward FDI.

As animosity between North America and China grows, North America is being increasingly protectionist in its FDI policies, which Chinese investors are rebuffing with claims that they lack clarity and transparency.