Essel Group president of cities and strategy Guy Perry is hoping to reproduce lessons from a successful Warsaw development in Mumbai, to create ‘smart’ neighbourhoods and change people’s attitudes in the process.

Ulmart – Russia's equivalent of Amazon – is dominant in its home market, where it is active in more than 240 cities. And through its digital strategy, which among other innovations sees it accept payment in Bitcoin, the company looks set to stay ahead of the international field.

Grzegorz Benedykcinski, the mayor of Grodzisk Mazowiecki, which won best small Polish city in fDi’s Polish Cities of the Future 2017/18 ranking, explains the secrets behind its success, including a favourable location, an educated workforce and an appetite for innovation.

Suren Karayan, Armenia’s minister of economic development and investments, explains how the country plans to exploit its network of east-west connections to enhance its FDI attractiveness.

Thanks to its spirit of entrepreneurship, Raleigh, North Carolina, has seen an influx of business and workers. Nancy McFarlane, mayor of the state capital, explains how this economic success has to be matched by infrastructure investment. 

Paula Gopee-Scoon, minister of trade and industry for Trinidad and Tobago, talks about the government’s ease of doing business plan, balancing tourism with commerce, and relations with major trading partner the US.