Belarus's expertise in nanotechnology is respected in the scientific community but has yet to attract the attention of the country's private sector. Professionals in the field hope that foreign investors can help fill this gap.

While many of its former Soviet peers were embracing privatisation programmes, Belarus shied away from such activity. However, the government has recently announced that it will be conducting tenders for many of its state-owned companies, and while foreign companies face a few obstacles should they want to get involved, first-mover advantages might be worth considering.

Hi-Tech Park in Belarus is a growing hub for both regional and international software and IT firms that offers its registered businesses economic incentives. This is one example of how the eastern European country is capitalising on its highly skilled workforce of engineers, which has also attracted the attention of the likes of Microsoft and NEC.

There is a common perception that investing in Belarus is only for the risk-takers. However, the country can point to many examples of companies large and small operating successfully within it. The key, according to those working in the country, is in the preparation.

Roopa Kudva, CEO and managing director of Indian rating agency and analytical company Crisil, has overseen the company's impressive international expansion of recent years, and has introduced some unconventional – and effective – methods along the way.

Mozambique has for years remained off the radar of international tourists and investors alike. However, the country is now making a concerted effort to show off its natural beauty and enticing business environment.

Thanks to a strong web of universities, entrepreneurial spirit and good co-operation between public and private entities, Pittsburgh has transformed itself from the Steel City to a tech town.

Poland's Ministry of Economy – keen to break down outdated international perceptions of the country – is carrying out a campaign aimed at showing off the country's many talents across an array of cutting-edge business sectors to the rest of the world. 

Poland has been Europe's star performer in the post-crisis period, recording GDP growth while its neighbours struggle. One reason for this is the change in the country's investment landscape, which has gone from being dominated by labour-intensive industries to seeing knowledge-based businesses flock to its cities.