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

A recent report by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), entitled Trends in Telecommunication Reform 2007, highlights that telecom privatisation is still a priority for emerging markets, despite a slowdown in the sale of state-owned operators.

In a sharp rebuke to the World Bank’s investment arbitration facility, Bolivia has formally withdrawn from the International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID). Lawyers who represent foreign investors are now wondering if other South American governments will follow suit.

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.

In the wake of a failed takeover bid, Lear Corporation is focusing on its ambitious global expansion strategy. And company chairman, CEO and president Bob Rossiter is leaving the door open to investors, he tells Lillie Guyer.

Biotech research firm Biogen Idec has chosen a site in the heart of Medicon Valley life sciences cluster for its new manufacturing facility. Karen E Thuermer reports.

Business process outsourcing can pay spectacular dividends but if it is done wrong, it can have nightmare results. Philip McNamara reports on lessons learned from American companies that have made the transition successfully.

The environment, safety and security, and globalisation and its impact on direct investment were three areas of concern and opportunity that mayors from across North, Central and South America examined at the second annual Mayors Hemispheric Forum in Chicago.

Huge upgrade of Quebec city plant includes installation of new equipment and creation of additional floor space.

German tyre producer Continental has begun construction of an electronic car-part plant in Costa Rica, with plans to invest more than $60m in the first year of operations.

US secretary of commerce Carlos M Gutierrez has released a policy paper on business visas and FDI that suggests ways of improving the efficiency, user-friendliness, and timeliness of the entry process.

After listening to investors’ needs and addressing concerns over the perceived risks, Colombia has developed new tools to make the country more attractive, trade minister Luis Guillermo Plata tells Juan Pablo Raymond.

As Chinese firms seek a stronger foothold in North America, economic developers seeking a slice of the investment must move fast, write Nan Yin and James Ku.

Although tax breaks and financial incentives may be in the spotlight when companies make their location decisions, ‘softer’ incentives could make the crucial difference, writes Erika Morphy.

Thailand sets target of four-fold sector expansion over next five years, with particular focus on healthcare.

Novartis has inaugurated a pharmaceutical manufacturing site in Tuas, Singapore, adding capacity to help support new product launches in the US and Japanese markets.

Rolls-Royce is to assemble some of its big jet engines for wide-body commercial jets outside the UK for the first time at a test and assembly plant in Singapore, the Financial Times has reported.

Looking ahead to Asian FDI trends for 2008, we expect Asian companies to seek out investment opportunities in tier-two and even tier-three Asian cities as they invest almost equally in both manufacturing and services due to increasing competition. More knowledge-based investment activities will also grow.

Since Vietnam loosened restrictions on banking, applications for licences have flooded in from foreign players and non-banks. Central bank governor Nguyen Van Giau will have to be tough in making the decisions to grant them. Interview by Karina Robinson.

Located at the crossroads of low-cost China and high-tech Japan, development of South Korea’s Incheon Free Economic Zone is proceeding apace.

Japan’s recently elected prime minister, Yasuo Fukuda, is keen to press ahead with FDI targets and seeks to develop closer ties with the neighbouring Asian countries, writes Jules Stewart.

India is priming itself for the arrival of a low-cost ‘people’s car’, which is due to hit the market by the end of the decade, reports N Chandra Mohan.

Hong Kong retains its lead spot in this year’s Asian Cities of the Future rankings but Singapore is in hot pursuit and the gap is narrowing. Charles Piggott analyses the results.

Report urges raising of total number of firms that export at expense of assistance for existing large exporters.

Remember when we used to hear a lot about e-business? Well, thankfully the ‘e’ has been dropped and we are back to business – a sure sign that we are fully comfortable with the digital world, which is now a vital part of all our business activities.

Geneva has landed two regional headquarters facilities of US companies. Minnesota-based grains, food and energy company CHS and Diebold, an Ohio-based provider of integrated self-service delivery, security systems and services, will set up their European, Middle East and African (EMEA) headquarters in the Swiss city.

Wyeth, one of the world’s largest research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare product companies, plans to invest more than €24m in the establishment of a new Pharmaceutical Development Centre at its Wyeth Medica Ireland facility in Newbridge, County Kildare.

Digby, Lord Jones of Birmingham spent several years as the spokesman for British business. He tells Courtney Fingar how his government role promoting trade and investment is not so different.

During his visit to the UK in November, Hungarian prime minister Ferenc Gyurcsány sat down with Courtney Fingar to discuss which sectors the country is concentrating on in terms of encouraging investment.

The Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey supports potential investors without discrimination of sector or origin, its chairman Alpaslan Korkmaz tells Metin Demirsar.

The Kosovo question continues to hang over the region. But fears of instability must be considered in the light of the Balkans’ good progress towards EU membership. Tom Blass reports.

Recovering from its war-damaged image, in terms of investor attraction Serbia is benefiting both from being outside the EU and from its prospective accession, as well as from its location and improving standards of business governance. By Tom Blass.

Macedonia is making economic and social progress,but its destiny is highly dependent on events and actors elsewhere in the region, writes Tom Blass.

Though small and sometimes overlooked, Macedonia has shown it can attract a diverse portfolio of investors, writes Tom Blass.

Middle east sees $4.8bn raised in first half of 2007, as emerging markets propel global IPO issuance levels.

Aureos West Africa Fund (AWAF) has made its first investment in Senegal with a $2.86m commitment to Compagnie Sahelienne d’Industries, which trades as Matforce, a car dealership and energy equipment provider.

India’s largest aviation services company, Livewel Aviation Services, will invest $80m in the newly launched Dubai World Central Aviation City.

Africa, backed by an average 5.4% growth over the past decade, finally achieved a “healthy and steady growth rate”, says the World Bank. The effect of China’s exponential investment, aid and trade in the past 10 years is easy to see. China is set to become the continent’s largest investor and trading partner by 2010.

Ivohasina Razafimahefa, Madagascar’s minister of economy, commerce and industry, talks to Courtney Fingar about his priorities since taking up his post in October, which includes supporting small businesses.

Strong economic and trade relations between China and South Africa were among the factors influencing Chinese bank ICBC’s huge investment in Standard Bank, reports Stephen Timewell.

Ghana’s $750m 10-year Eurobond issue is another first from the republic, and may herald theblooming of Africa’s capital markets. Edward Russell-Walling reports.

Qatar’s economy took longer to take off than some of its neighbours but it is now racing ahead. Christian Henderson reports on plans to safeguard this new-found prosperity.

Qatar has traditionally rebuffed foreign investment, but liberalisation measures should herald a new era of openness and boost FDI. Christian Henderson explains.

Regions all over the world are benefiting from organised cross-border promotion initiatives. Karen E Thuermer reports.

Auto manufacturing is speeding into the digital age as firms introduce more innovation and automation. By Lillie Guyer.

Emerging-market multinationals have tended to take a sanguine view of political risk. But awareness of the need for insurance is increasing along with south-south flows, writes Persephone Economou.

Companies from India have traditionally looked to Asia or Europe when expanding, but new research suggests that North America is attracting an increasing share of business.

The number of free zones across the world is increasing dramatically as countries realise the huge returns that can be generated and as early movers export their expertise, writes Arti Kumria.

The prime location of the Jebel Ali Free Zone, with impressive logistics and infrastructure advantages, has ensured its status as a regional distribution hub.

Jafza International has 22 years of experience in its Jebel Ali Free Zone in Dubai. It is a model that it is now exporting with great success all around the world.

With many economic zones in the UAE offering similar incentives, the sector risks overcrowding. Co-operation may be the only way forward, explains Arti Kumria.

The CEO of Jafza and Economic Zones World talks to fDi about the progress that EZW has made in Dubai and globally.

TechnoPark in Dubai is attracting investors from all over the world to its cutting-edge business environment.

The Khalifa Port and Industrial Zone project will not only contribute to Abu Dhabi’s growth and development, but that of Dubai and the larger United Arab Emirates as well.

China’s latest financial zone, the Binhai New Area in Tianjin, is illustrative of the SEZ evolution that is taking place across asia. James Ku explains.

LADOL Free Zone offers investors in oil-rich western Africa a safe, convenient and efficient one-stop shop for all logistics services.

Numerous factors can result in either very slow progress in attracting free zone investors or a complete failure. Peter Ryan explains what helps and what hinders the path to success.

In the world of special economic zones, Dubai dominates and its fellow emirates are among those close behind, according to our latest rankings.

With its post-civil war power-sharing agreement under way, Côte d’Ivoire can now look to its economy, with the public and private sectors hoping to revive the ‘Ivorian miracle’. Michael Deibert reports.

The end of the civil war presents Côte d’Ivoire with a chance to expand its economic base beyond agriculture,reports Michael Deibert.

Chairman and CEO of the Village de Technologies de l’Information et de la Biotechnologie, Vincent Gadou Kragbe, tells fDi of his plans to attract local and international firms to Côte d’Ivoire’s Free Trade Zone.

While cocoa is still king in Côte d’Ivoire, other commodities loom on the horizon. Michael Deibert explains.

Côte d’Ivoire’s telecoms industry is vibrant and full of promise, with market penetration of 27% and big companies moving onto the scene, but there are hurdles to overcome.