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 race to Myanmar is under way, as investors look to get in early to make the most of one of the world's most intriguing propositions. However, despite making some short-term gains, the country's leaders are eyeing the long game.

Governor Jay Nixon led a European roadshow in June to drum up interest in the mid-western state of Missouri, highlighting its solid fiscal record and strengths in financial services, advanced manufacturing and animal sciences. He sat down with Courtney Fingar on a stop in London.

Bahrain's bid to show its investment potential to the rest of the world by hosting a Formula 1 grand prix may have been blighted by negative press, but the country has still attracted a host of global companies thanks to its emerging financial services sector and logistics capabilities.

Hong Kong's efforts to attract SMEs – global, Asian and Chinese – and its business-friendly policies are establishing the city-state as a major hub for such businesses.

At the World Economic Forum meeting on Africa in Cape Town in May, fDi spoke to leading officials from three African countries that are implementing strategies to improve their records for attracting foreign investment.

Free zones are often seen as a cure-all remedy to the problems developing economies encounter when trying to attract FDI. However, the reality is that such projects need careful planning and long-term support if they are to fulfil such wishes, as Barbara Njau discovers.