East Germany's automotive industry used to be the butt of jokes around Europe. Now, however, no one is laughing as the eastern state of Saxony has established a reputation for producing cutting-edge, luxurious vehicles that are in demand around the world.

The successful pursuit of foreign investment to Macedonia in recent years is in no small part down to prime minister Nikola Gruevski's businesslike approach to running his country. He tells Michal Kaczmarski how this approach – combined with a worldwide talent search – is reaping rewards.

As Spain claws its way out of recession, investors are diving back in, keen to make the most of bottom-of-the-cycle prices and newly competitive cost structures. 

The governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, tells Michal Kaczmarski how his background in business shapes his approach to seeking investment and why there is more to his home state than whiskey.

Car manufacturers are investing their way out of the doldrums by upping their efforts when it comes to R&D, and increasingly partnering with academic institutions to stay ahead of the competition.

Seemingly every FDI-hungry location in the world is eyeing the automotive and biotech sectors, but by focusing on the SME supply chain, the east German city of Leipzig is managing to excel in both areas.