For the past 18 months, private investment promotion firm Connect Ireland has been offering financial incentives to individuals who can put the company in touch with potential investors. Michal Kaczmarski examines the early results of this innovative initiative.

By undercutting the rest of the country in terms of corporate tax, establishing a range of incentives and developing clusters in strategic economic sectors, the Basque Country has become a significant hub for FDI in Spain, and one of the few destinations to maintain its appeal throughout the county's current economic crisis.

The Central Cardiff Enterprise Zone offers businesses a central location and easy access to the city centre, as well as financial incentives. 

Cardiff is emerging as an unlikely hub for the television and film sector, where businesses can access a niche film-making community while getting government support

When it comes to attracting crossborder investment, the Pomeranian region of Poland punches above its weight, helped in large part by Tri-City – three separate municipalities that work together to promote investment. fDi talks to the mayors of Gdansk, Gdynia and Sopot. 

The financial and professional services sector in Wales is growing at pace, buoyed by the relatively low cost of salaries in the country and an abundance of graduates. And, with the economic climate forcing an increasing number of companies to seek cost-cutting solutions, the country's appeal is only set to increase.

The Welsh capital of Cardiff offers all of the benefits of a large city, without the large price tag. Slowly, its relatively cheap but well educated workforce and attractive government incentives are starting to draw companies away from rival English cities.

The beautiful landscape of the southern Italian region of Calabria helps to mask an area with high crime and unemployment levels. And now its one salvation of recent years – the once-thriving port of Gioia Tauro – is struggling to compete against lower cost competitors elsewhere on the Mediterranean.