While the cities of eastern Poland appear to be well located – offering access to Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania as well as links to Warsaw – the reality for many of them is one of infrastructural shortfall, as Courtney Fingar discovers.

As the figures in the recently released fDi Report show, the FDI fortunes of developing countries vary from country to country and region to region. However, as Courtney Fingar points out, the universal lesson to be learned is that a period of hardship is not the time to cut an investment promotion budget.

Jan Krzysztof Bielecki, chairman of the partners board at EY Poland and former prime minister of Poland, discusses the challenges facing the country, including why it needs to keep its talent within its borders.

The Polish city of Olsztyn's large student population, combined with its natural beauty, give it a unique selling proposition to attract investors. 

The cities of Puławy and Lublin have both carved out niches to attract investment, the former having established a reputation in the chemical sector but also in scientific research and the latter as a well-connected academic city. But, says Courtney Fingar, their respective specialties complement each other.

The region of Podlaskie in eastern Poland might have built its economy on a thriving agribusiness industry, but now is diversifying into new, emerging fields, and harvesting the rewards. 

With its two closest neighbours on the brink of war and its largest economic partner suffering a downturn, Belarus has found itself in a delicate situation over the past 14 months. Government officials in Minsk tell Courtney Fingar how the country intends to navigate its difficult new path.

Renowned as a holiday destination, Jamaica is keen to position itself as a hub for professional services and business process outsourcing in a bid to attract more FDI and create much-needed jobs.