The best prospects for those seeking employment have traditionally been in the developed economies of the West, leading to the diaspora of highly educated, motivated and skilled people from countries such as Nigeria, Poland and Brazil. But with these emerging economies proving more resilient to the current economic climate, and with a scarcity of talent resulting in the offering of highly lucrative salaries, many of these expatriates are returning home.

Pro-democracy protests in Yemen have derailed the progress that the country was making in attracting FDI, with a 50% decrease in the number of foreign businesses obtaining investment licences in the country in 2011. Until the political situation is resolved, it is likely that this downward trend will continue, despite the abundant investment opportunities in the country.

As the EU imposes an oil embargo on Iran and the screws tighten on neighbouring Syria, foreign companies doing business with the affected countries are scrambling to stay on the right side of the law while hedging against their losses. 

Mauritius' vice-prime minister tells fDi how he is concerned about the impact of the eurozone crisis on the country's exports and tourism sector, but is positive over the country's business environment, which, he says, is an ideal starting point for any investor looking to enter Africa.

Across central Asia, from China to Kazakhstan, economies are set to benefit from the re-opening of trade routes along the historic Silk Road. Significant investment has already been made to improve the infrastructure along the route, but further investment, more cohesion between the central Asian countries involved and more politically stability in the region as a whole is needed if this great passageway between Asia and Europe is to return to its former glory.
 

Israel’s Arison Investments’ promotional slogan is ‘doing good business by doing good’. Its chairman and CEO, Efrat Peled, tells Michal Kaczmarski how this slogan is put into action in its projects in the developing world.

Olam International – a Singaporean agricultural products and food ingredients company – is reaping the rewards of its global expansion, which has largely focused on Asia and Africa. But while it has recently revised upwards its long-term net profit forecast, food price volatility, poor weather and its large debts are potential hazards in the horizon.