The Dutch minister for foreign trade and development co-operation, Lilianne Ploumen, talks about competition, complacency and why partnering with developing countries is a win-win situation.

The Tennessee Valley Authority's remit – a federally owned utility company with responsibilities towards community development in a vast area of the US's south-east – means that it stands out from other energy companies and development agencies. Indeed, this unusual structure is working to it advantage when it comes to attracting investment to the region.

Will a first-round court victory for Chinese manufacturer Sany over the Committee on Foreign Investment in the US have implications for other foreign investors?

Singapore has claimed the title as fDi's Global City of the Future 2014/15, with London and Hong Kong in second and third place, respectively. We present an analysis of the leading cities and other up-and-comers in the inaugural rankings

Free zones in the Middle East have dominated fDi’s Global Free Zones of the Year awards, with Jebel Ali Free Zone crowned the Global Free Zone of the Year 2014 for Large Tenants, and Dubai Multi Commodities Centre reigning supreme for the SME category. Cathy Mullan reports.

Shanghai has been crowned fDi’s Chinese Province of the Future 2014/15, with Beijing and Guangdong taking second and third places, respectively.

The UK may attract high levels of FDI, but there is an ever greater number of Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) vying for this capital. To succeed in winning it, LEPs must be armed with the right expertise, a clear brand message and, of course, a distinct competitive advantage.

Many investment promotion agencies are just as keen to court start-ups as they are large multinationals, but their approach to attracting these smaller, more fragile companies may benefit from being more hands off than with their larger, established counterparts.

With locations around the world falling for the charms of SMEs, Michal Kaczmarski looks at the innovative ways in which IPAs are attracting and nurturing smaller business, and assesses benefits they receive as the SMEs blossom into something much more lucrative.