fDi has compiled its first investment map to identify the leading cities, sectors and companies within each German state based on data from 2013 to 2017. 

Zdenko Lucić, managing director of the Agency for Investments and Competitiveness of Croatia, talks to Courtney Fingar about the country’s growth industries of tourism and technology, and a refocus on quality investments.

The past few years might have been difficult politically for Egypt, but that has not affected the plans of US technology and consultancy firm IBM, which has steadily been growing its presence in the country, expanding its operations and developing partnerships with local educational institutions and the government. 

Like many locations, Louisiana decided to bet on the tech sector as an engine of future economic growth. And, while many other states with similar ambitions have failed, Louisiana has already succeeded in attracting some big tech names.

Hopes are high that the a more business-friendly India will emerge under the stewardship of new prime minister Narendra Modi. But the FDI fortunes of India’s states look to remain disparate until policies and regulations are better coordinated.

The rise of smart cities in sub-Saharan Africa is causing ripples of excitement in technology circles, but while so much of the region remains cut off from power supplies and the most basic of infrastructure, just who will benefit from this smartening up?

Kenya suffered a setback in the latter half of 2013, when two major incidents in quick succession dealt a blow to its international reputation. But cabinet secretary for transport and infrastructure Michael Kamau tells Barbara Njau that he is confident that the government's effective response to these events, and its commitment to developing the country's infrastructure, will help cement Kenya's position as a leading investment destination in east Africa.

While the benefits of high-tech hubs are widely agreed upon – they generate substantial revenues, boost job creation and raise the profile of a location – the formula for creating a successful cluster is far less clear cut, with a multitude of factors, from the quality of local talent to the extent of government assistance, playing a part.

The relatively small and quiet Canadian province of Nova Scotia manages to punch above its weight in the investment stakes, thanks in no small part to its economic development agency, which has taken a creative and thorough approach to attracting FDI.

With destinations competing to attract foreign investment, some are attempting to get ahead of the competition by positioning themselves as hubs for design and innovation.