Romania’s new president, Klaus Iohannis, is leading a huge crackdown on corruption. While this move has been welcomed by investors and politicians, there are still numerous hurdles for the country to clear, including implementing proposals for fiscal reforms designed to boost growth and benefit business. Polly Botsford reports.

Manufacturing is the single largest business activity to attract FDI into Romania and has seen significant modernisation not only of legacy equipment and processes but also of attitudes. Investors believe, however, the country needs greater overall predictability and transparency. 

Romania’s presidential election in November delivered a surprise victory for Klaus Iohannis, an outsider on an anti-corruption ticket. But as the country's economy shows signs of growth, concerns remain about its outdated infrastructure and uneven legislation

Regional bilateral free-trade agreements have emerged as a mechanism for boosting crossborder trade and investment in recent years, but none has been as ambitious as the two mega-regional deals currently being negotiated.

The prosecutorial ‘war on corruption’ continues both in the US and elsewhere – and both companies and individuals are being held to account. 

Popular before the crisis, Romania has seen a dearth of inward investment since 2008. The downturn has been blamed on political turbulence and a lack of credit, problems still evident, but a flurry of deals at the start of the year suggests that investors are once again looking to take advantage of the country's attractive talent pool and technological expertise.

The EU has issued new rules on how much state aid can be granted to investors in EU member countries. What impact will this have on FDI?

While the boom times in Australia’s mining industry may have abated, foreign investors are still finding favour in different sectors, not least because of the country’s close ties with other markets in the Asia-Pacific. 

Indonesia’s investment boom has continued amid declining investor confidence and slipping GDP growth. But as the presidential election looms, what are the country’s prospects?

For all its economic woes, Italy still has one valuable commodity: its reputation as a world leader in the design and manufacture of high-end, high-quality fashion, furniture and accessories. Foreign investors have long had an appetite for the country's illustrious brands, but only now are these companies starting to see the advantages of foreign capital.