Spain's economic success stories have been thin on the ground since the onset of the global financial crisis, but that is changing, with capital city Madrid leading the country's charge across the hi-tech, transport and real estate sectors.

The Malaysian capital of Kuala Lumpur is a popular destination for tourists, and is rising in prominence as a finance and business hub for the south-east Asia region. Barbara Njau charts the city's progress.

With the opening of a nearby residential development, complete with a whole host of leisure facilities, Special Economic Zone Alabuga is hoping to strengthen its appeal to foreign investors.

While Johannesburg remains way out in front when it comes to African international finance centres, competition is emerging in Casablanca, Lagos and Rwanda. And though reputational issues may dog much of the continent, it would seem that South Africa will not have everything its own way in the coming years.

Far from the Kremlin's corridors of power, Russia's second-tier cities are striving to transform themselves. fDi looks at how the Russian cities of Tomsk, Rostov-on-Don and Tula are trying to attract investors amid geopolitical uncertainty in the region.

After a hugely successful 2013, expectations are high for the real estate sector in the Russian cities of Moscow and St Petersburg. However, unlike previous booms in the country, this particular building frenzy is largely being driven by foreign companies drawn in by Russia's rapidly growing middle class.

Investors are looking beyond Romanian capital Bucharest to cities such as Timisoara, Cluj Napoca, Brasov and Constanta, and finding growing economies, skills and business capacity.