Foreign investment stretches beyond the perceived image of a company entering a developing market in search of cheap labour. The trick is to become so entrenched in a country’s psyche that your business feels local, writes Courtney Fingar.

DaimlerChrysler AG announced in May it would sell 80.1% of Chrysler Group to New York private equity firm Cerberus Capital Management LP, the highest bidder. DaimlerChrysler also said it would hold a 19.9% minority stake.

Foreign direct investment outflows from Latin American and Caribbean countries to the rest of the world jumped by 115% to $41bn last year.

At the start of this decade, two-thirds of Goldman Sachs’ revenue was earned in the US. In the first half of 2007, less than half came from the US, and, for the first time, more was earned internationally than at home.

Where does Europe begin and where does it end? According to an old Austrian saying, it ends somewhere south of Vienna. Maybe so in the past, but now Europe spreads much further, and grows bigger by the day.

An analysis by global real estate advisory firm Cushman & Wakefield of the locations chosen by some of the world’s key pharmaceutical companies found Europe and North America are neck and neck. Both regions are home to an almost equal number of the key R&D facilities and headquarters.

The Indian information technology industry passed the $50bn mark in 2006-07. Dataquest’s annual DQ Top 20 survey of the Indian IT industry revealed that it recorded a growth of 32% in rupee terms and was a little shy of 30% growth in dollar terms during the year.

Elim Chew, managing director of Singaporean fashion chain 77th Street, explains the company’s international strategy to Lawrence Yeo.

Legal challenges from the world of foreign direct investment. By Luke Peterson.

During an hour-long session at the CFO Strategies Europe conference in Monaco, chaired by fDi, panel participants discussed the challenges of corporate expansion decisions and strategies for coping with them – above all, the recruitment and retention of talent. Here are some excerpts.

Biotech firm Codexis has a broad focus across the industry. It is now planning to open an R&D facility in Singapore as another step in its globalisation strategy, and also has China in its sights.

Pennsylvania governor Edward G Rendell has turned the fortunes of the state around since he was elected in 2003. Much of that success is attributed to his answer to the problems posed by outsourcing: to insource. Courtney Fingar reports.

US Treasury deputy secretary Robert Kimmitt tells Courtney Fingar, at Treasury offices in Washington, about the fight against protectionism.

Cobra Beer, originally based in India but targeting a niche market in the UK, moved production to the UK a decade ago. The move paid off and now the company, under the stewardship of founder Karan Bilimoria, is in a position to expand both in terms of production and in terms of target markets. By Karen E Thuermer.

As minister for commerce and industry in one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Kamal Nath has played a pivotal role in bringing India centre-stage in the global economy.

Vincent Gadou Kragbé, chairman and CEO of VITIB, and special adviser to the president of Côte d’Ivoire, has lofty ambitions for the country: to transform it into a financial power and regional development hub.

In an increasingly risk-obsessed world, risk management is high on the agenda, and locations that can demonstrate proven resilience are catching the attention of investors.

If Sergio Fajardo Valderrama, the dashing, denim-wearing mayor of Medellín, Colombia, does not come across as an average politician, that is because he is not. A mathematician who became fed up with the old political power structures and ran for office in 2003, Mr Fajardo has brought a distinct air of change to a city that needed it desperately.

With an eye to accelerating development and boosting FDI inflows, the government of Ras Al Khaimah (part of the United Arab Emirates) established an investment authority under the chairmanship of HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, crown prince and deputy ruler, in 2005.

The US made a seismic change this year to its FDI policy, with the federal government vowing to play a much more proactive role in promoting inward investment. The tone was set by president George W Bush’s ‘Open Economies’ statement in May 2007 along with an announcement of the creation of the Invest in America initiative.

Folkestone, a coastal resort in the south-east of England, is undergoing a resurgence funded by a local benefactor. Martin Roche reports.

There is much for other countries to learn from Spain’s spectacular, FDI-fuelled economic rise over the past few decades. As Silvia Pavoni reports, this Iberian country aims to continue to climb the international competitiveness rankings.

France’s new prime minister has announced sweeping reforms aimed at making the country an easier place to do business. Peter Prowse reports.

With NATO, and potentially EU, membership looming, Macedonia is pressing ahead with reforms and enjoying a buoyant economy. Jules Stewart reports.

Bordering Hungary, Romania and Croatia, as well as lying on the Danube River, the Serbian region of Vojvodina is positioning itself as a highly skilled platform for serving Europe as well as Russia. Jules Stewart reports.

Khalid bin Harib, CEO of real estate at Dubai World Central – a massive, multi-phase development at Jebel Ali – discusses the impact the project will have upon the UAE and the Middle East.

The UAE’s remarkable rollercoaster ride towards becoming a global business hub continues to produce record-breaking highs, but investors should also be prepared for some worrying dips, write Mark Ford and Nadine Marroushi.

South Africa comes top in fDi’s African Countries of the Future 2007/08 rankings, with Mauritius and the Seychelles coming close behind. Charles Piggott reports on the leading performers in sub-Saharan Africa

Swaziland offers a safe, sensible and profitable free market economy strategically situated between South Africa and Mozambique.

Jude Amos offers an overview of tax incentives for export processing zones in Africa.

Côte d’Ivoire is taking advantage of a more politically stable environment to put into action its ambitious plans for development and to create a broader appeal to investors. Wendy Atkins reports.

LADOL Free Zone offers investors in oil-rich western Africa a safe, convenient and efficient one-stop shop for all logistics services.

Puerto Rico once again outshines its Caribbean neighbours in fDi’s Countries of the Future competition, with Jamaica coming in as runner up. Charles Piggott reports.

Costa Rica leads this year’s ranking for fDi’s Central American Countries of the Future 2007/08, with Panama coming in second. Charles Piggott reports on the leading performers in the region.

Despite being the second largest city in the world, Mexico City has struggled to compete with the Asian behemoths when it comes to FDI. However, both the local and national governments are determined to attract business befitting a city with a population of 20 million inhabitants. Jason Mitchell reports.

As the second largest city in the world by population, and eighth largest in economic terms, Mexico City justifiably sees itself as a major player on the world stage. As minister of finance Mario Delgado Carrillo tells Jason Mitchell, the rest of the world is coming round to that way of thinking.

Marcelo Ebrard Casaubón, mayor of Mexico City, talks to Jason Mitchell about the city’s potential for growth, its education and transportation reform plans, and his ‘unique’ relationship with the federal government.

The infrastructure pressures and other difficulties faced by megacities such as Mexico’s capital are precisely where Siemens finds its best opportunities.

Ethanol production is rising rapidly as governments search for an alternative to oil. The US and Brazil are the leading players in the biofuels sector, but Europe is dragging its feet. Jason Mitchell reports.

Thamrong Mahajchariyawong, deputy secretary general, Board of Investment of Thailand, speaks to fDi about the country’s recent political upheaval.

Liberal laws and improving regulations are keeping investors interested in Cambodia as it begins to diversify its economic base. By Nick Freeman.

As the outsourcing sector evolves, and new challengers threaten India’s dominance as a low-cost offshore option, paying due attention to the ‘four Ps’ – project, people, price and place – is vital in the decision making process, writes Graham Underwood.

Knowledge process outsourcing is now gaining momentum in the outsourcing industry. Alok Aggarwal explains what it is and assesses its market potential.

Much of the received wisdom is negative about the EU’s economic partnership agreements (EPAs) with the African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states and sceptical of EU intentions in pursuing them.

The Malaysia of 2007 is unrecognisable from the Malaysia of 1957, when the country gained independence. Prime minister Abdullah Bin Haji Ahmad Badawi charts the development of one of Asia’s most remarkable success stories.

Malaysia’s attractiveness and viability as a business location is growing, writes Malaysia’s minister of international trade and industry, Rafidah Aziz.

Malaysia has survived the side blow of the Asian financial crisis in 1997 and is on track to meet its development goals for 2020. But given the country’s relatively small labour force, the key to its success will lie in its ability to move up the value chain.

Foreign direct investment will play a major role in helping the country to realise Vision 2020 – but capital intensive, not labour intensive, investment is the key, writes Tom Blass.

Port of Tanjung Pelepas and its free zone offer unrivaled opportunities regarding location, connectivity and expansion.

Industrial development continues in Malaysia as the government’s plans come to fruition, and bilateral business relations with the UK are likely to grow stronger.

Value-added services are the big hope for Malaysia’s bid to be the outsourcing hub of south-east Asia. Tom Blass reports.

The government is playing a role in encouraging the biotechnology industry to take advantage of human skills and biological resources.

Although Malaysia’s tourism business is young, visitors numbers are growing and the government has set high targets, says Neil Tyler.

A decade after the Asia crisis, Malaysia’s monetary policy has been vindicated and the finance industry has proven robust. Tom Blass reports.

Malaysia is proud of its Islamic banking sector and is taking action to position the country as south-east Asia’s Islamic finance hub.