Why do you aim to attract investment from your chosen sector(s) to your region/country?

Foreign investment committee of Chile, Karen Poniachik, executive vice-president Cross-sector investments, including the automotive industry, in geographically isolated regions of Chile

Chile has strong competitive advantages that make it a very attractive location for industrial investments, including the automotive sector. Our political and social stability, strong macroeconomic fundamentals, low operational costs, growing network of free trade agreements, transparency and skilled labour force combine to create an extremely favourable business environment.

Alberta Economic Development, Susan Henderson, director of investment attraction, Europe Sector targeted: biotechnology

Alberta has a strong, home-grown base of science, research capability and capacity. It has very high quality post secondary educational institutions – increasingly creating demand for commercialisation frameworks and assistance. Alberta is not prioritising the attraction or movement of companies in the biotechnology sector. The province is interested in expanding and enhancing existing cluster development from within.

Costa Rican Investment Board, Anabel Gonzalez, director-general Sector: information technology

IT is an integral part of the vision that we share for the new Costa Rica and foreign investment is a key force in realising such a vision. Actions and policy measures in areas such as education, infrastructure, logistics and the business environment all converge in this vision, providing a great environment for technological progress and innovation.

CzechInvest, Martin Jahn, chief executive officer, Sector: outsourcing – shared service centres

Attracting the so-called “intellectual industry” – which includes shared service, customer contact and software centres – maximises net economic gain through the provision of new technologies, infrastructure and quality employment opportunities for our intellectual capital.

Estonian Investment Agency, Andrus Viirg, director, Sector: information technology

Estonia is a small country with limited natural resources. Its success depends heavily on the ability to take advantage of IT. One of the cornerstones of its sustainable success and growth will be in IT. By attracting FDI, we aim to foster development in IT and other high-tech industries.

Hungarian Investment and Trade Development Agency, Lajos Csősz, marketing director, Sector: automotive

Hungary has industrial traditions, particularly heavy vehicles, and world-renowned inventions. Also, it enjoys government support and Hungary’s small and medium-size businesses are now suppliers to large foreign companies.

Invest Hong Kong, Mike Rowse, director-general, Sector: telecoms, IT, tourism, technology, financial services, business services, transportation

Invest Hong Kong selects nine economic sectors as priorities for inward investment promotion. These are targeted because Hong Kong has comparative advantages in them and they have higher economic values. Biotechnology is one of the sub-sectors in the technology priority sector.

Invest in Iceland, Gardar Ingvarsson, managing director, Sector: energy-intensive industries

Invest in Iceland follows the government’s policy of promoting the use of Iceland’s clean and renewable geothermal and hydropower energy resources, in particular for sustainable development; to diversify industrial activity and economy; to improve living standards; and to expand exports and stimulate foreign investments.

IDA Ireland, Brendan Halpin, marketing and services manager, Sector: IT, pharmaceutical/ health care/ financial and international services

Ireland has more than 1200 foreign companies in these sectors already. IDA is seeking to encourage these companies, alongwith new ones, to add higher value activites in Ireland. Foreign companies represent 35% of Ireland’s GDP and account for 80% of manufactured exports.

Jamaican Export & Investment Facilitation Agency, Julian J Robinson, manager, Sector: IT and international business, IT outsourcing

In the National Industrial Policy of 1996, the Jamaican government identified IT as one of the critical sectors to support economic growth and development. A five year strategic IT plan has been developed which aims to transform Jamaica into a knowledge-based economy. Investment in IT is a critical component of this overall plan.

Government of Trinidad & Tobago, Candyce Kelshall, commercial attache, Sector: down stream petrochemicals and chemicals, plastics, pharmaceuticals, fertilizers, specialty chemicals, paints and cosmetics, perfumes and toiletries

We wish to attract investment in this field because we are seeking to develop and build upon our tradition of excellence in the sector. Trinidad sank its first oilwell in 1893 – even before the state of Texas sank its first well. Today we are the largest exporter of both methanol and ammonia in the world and the sixth largest exporter of lNG in the world. Further investment in the downstream sectors will assist us to keep at the forefront of the technology associated with the industry and keep us ahead in our game.

Western cape Investment and Tarde Promotion Agency, Roland Hein, chief operating officer, Sector: automotive components

Since 1994, exports of automotive components from the Western Cape have more than tripled – in fact a significant amount, if not all of the production of foreign firms investing in this industry support their main international customers. With the very favourable Rand exchange rate, the competitiveness in this industry for the Western