The central Asian countries of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan barely register in terms of global FDI share, making the presence of the IFC in the region all the more important. The corporation's director of Europe and central Asia tells Michal Kaczmarski how the IFC is helping these former Soviet republics make their voices heard.

Government efforts to move away from a reliance on hydrocarbons and into manufacturing are paying dividends, writes Barbara Njau, with Saudi Arabia and the UAE leading the way.

Years of sluggish economic growth and the political deadlock of recent months have seen the US's AAA credit rating once again come under risk, but could the country's pro-FDI stance and shale gas-fuelled energy boom be about to alleviate some of this pressure?

Countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly keen to show off their tourism credentials to international travellers. But while visitor numbers are on the rise, the region's dated infrastructure and poor image are proving to be tough obstacles to overcome.

Remote and robust, New Zealand managed to avoid the worst of the global economic downturn, and while its exports remain strong, the country's finance minister says that oil exploration being carried out could elevate it to another level.