Deadline for submission - THIS FRIDAY 21ST NOV!!

WHAT? The North American Cities of the Future 2009/2010 is a competition to find those cities, small and large, with the best prospects for inward investment, economic development and business expansion.

WHY? This is a great opportunity for your city to compete for the title 'North American City of the Future 2009/10' which will be published in the fDi Magazine, which is part of the globally renowned newspaper - The Financial Times. fDi Magazine is the global leading title focusing on the business of globalization, with a readership that comprises of CEOs, CFOs and other senior boardroom level decision makers at the world's leading companies

As IT giant HP cuts staff by 7.5%, the industry predicts a migration of resources to growth markets such as India.

Worldwide regulatory reforms have reached a record high this year, according to the International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Management consultancy PricewaterhouseCoopers has announced a global restructuring to follow its multinational client base into emerging markets.

Governments around the world are interested in improving the governance of the state-owned enterprises remaining in their portfolios to raise the quality of services offered, improve performance and reduce drain on public finances.

Chaos in global financial markets and a more general economic downturn will have a significant effect on crossborder investment in the next two years.

As companies seek new markets, executives say that by 2014 China will be the world’s top investment destination.

The world’s poorest countries must diversify their business sectors or risk devastating consequences in the event of changing global trade patterns.

Automotive manufacturer Volvo is to cut about 8% of its global workforce as sales in developed markets slump and car makers shift operations to lower-cost manufacturing destinations.

The global infrastructure market to date is far from saturated, with infrastructure privatisation continuing to offer attractive investment opportunities for both foreign and domestic companies. In India, for example, the Ministry of Finance recently estimated about $320bn was needed in infrastructure investment between 2007 and 2012 to maintain annual growth of about 9%.

A US shipping container law scheduled to come into force in 2012 may impede global trade, and risks being viewed as protectionism by its international trading partners, the World Customs Organization (WCO) has warned.

Arguments for regulation of SWF investment raise fears that protectionism could hinder capital flows.

The UK, the US and Germany top the list of countries in a study ranking 22 of the world’s leading jurisdictions for intellectual property.

China has been ranked the most attractive destination for FDI, ahead of both eastern and western Europe, according to a study by Ernst & Young that examined the perceptions of top business leaders.

Post-privatisation concerns are arising in some emerging markets.

Vietnam has ousted India from its three-year reign as the most attractive emerging market destination for retail investment, according to a study by AT Kearney.

Coca-Cola extends technical operations to China, South Africa and Mexico to support long-term growth plans.

Capital flows to emerging markets reached an all-time high last year, with much of the increase due to FDI, according to new research.

Intercontinental Hotels Group (IHG) will follow a global expansion strategy across emerging markets with the creation of a series of new hotels in Russia, India and Indonesia.

According to the most recent data in the World Bank Group’s Privatization Database, privatisation transactions carried out by 48 developing countries reached a record $105bn in 2006.

The foreign investment landscape has significantly changed as assets under management of Sovereign Wealth Funds (SWF) increased by 18% last year to $3.3bn, according to London think tank International Financial Services London.

Job cuts come as engineering company announces $300m expansion in US and Singapore over the next five years.

Global deal volumes for commercial real estate will fall 17% in 2008 as a result of economic uncertainty caused by the credit crunch, according to new research.

China and India are the two most appealing FDI destinations, according to a survey of corporate executives.

A recent report titled ‘Fifteen Years of Transformation in the Post-Communist World: Rapid Reformers Outperformed Gradualists’ examines the privatisation experience of transition economies.

The world’s largest cigarette maker, Altria, has announced a schedule for decoupling Philip Morris International (PMI) from its US operations to accommodate a shift in global sales.

Innovative companies operating in efficient markets mark out the US as the most competitive economy.

The United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) annual survey of global investment trends reports that foreign direct investment jumped sharply – by 38% – in 2006 to $1306bn, nearly equalling the record set in 2000.

More locations are becoming acceptable for inward investment, suggest the results of an annual IBM study.

FDI flows are expected to increase in the next three years despite concerns about global financial instability and protectionism in some countries, said the United Nations Conference on Trade & Development (Unctad).

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need a strong World Trade Organization (WTO), delegates declared at a public forum organised by the WTO in Geneva in early October.

London and New York are the only two truly global financial centres, according to a benchmarking study commissioned by City of London officials.

DaimlerChrysler AG announced in May it would sell 80.1% of Chrysler Group to New York private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, the highest bidder. DaimlerChrysler also said it would hold a 19.9% minority stake.

Foreign direct investment outflows from Latin American and Caribbean countries to the rest of the world jumped by 115% to $41bn last year.

An analysis by global real estate advisory firm Cushman & Wakefield of the locations chosen by some of the world’s key pharmaceutical companies found Europe and North America are neck and neck. Both regions are home to an almost equal number of the key R&D facilities and headquarters.

The Indian information technology industry passed the $50bn mark in 2006-07. Dataquest’s annual DQ Top 20 survey of the Indian IT industry revealed that it recorded a growth of 32% in rupee terms and was a little shy of 30% growth in dollar terms during the year.

Following an announcement earlier this spring that it would launch an ‘Invest in America’ initiative spearheaded by the US Department of Commerce, the White House issued a policy statement on May 10 that re-enforced the message that the US government would begin a national push to promote inward investment.

Alongside the BIO 2007 event in Boston, representatives from cities across North America attended an awards reception at the Marriott Copley hotel on May 7 to collect their prizes for fDi magazine’s Cities of the Future rankings.

Turkey is due to hold general elections on July 22, four months ahead of schedule, in the hope of ending a political crisis over who should be the next president of the republic.

The Middle East property development and investment industry turned out in force on May 8 to celebrate excellence in real estate development and investment in the region. Cityscape Abu Dhabi, in association with Financial Times Business, presented the Cityscape Real Estate Awards at a gala dinner at the Emirates Palace Hotel in Abu Dhabi.

Computer chip maker Intel has announced its first integrated wafer plant in Asia will be in its fastest-growing market, China.

Toyota is set to build its eighth North American manufacturing facility in Mississippi. The state beat off southern rivals Arkansas and Tennessee to win the investment.

UK business has welcomed the extension of the UK research and development tax regime, unveiled in chancellor Gordon Brown’s budget presentation in March.

Malaysia’s Port Klang Free Zone (PKFZ) has attracted more than RM400m ($116m) in foreign investments since opening for business in November 2006, PKFZ officials have reported. Another RM91m is expected soon.

Food and beverages giant Kraft is relocating its European headquarters to Switzerland.

California governor Arnold Schwarzenegger has announced a strategic research and innovation initiative that will provide $95m in funds for projects in ‘clean’ technology, biotechnology and nanotechnology.

This year, a record number of Indian companies will acquire businesses in Europe, and Western companies will redouble their efforts to take a stake in India, according to market watchers at IndusView, an Indian mergers and acquisitions firm.

Global flows of foreign investment reached their second highest level ever in 2006: $1200bn. According to new United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (Unctad) estimates, significant growth was recorded in inflows to developed, developing as well as transition economies.