fDi Podcast

Much like the rest of the world, investment promotion agencies (IPAs) are grappling with a new world order underpinned by geopolitical instability and rising inflation.fDi Intelligence's global investment reporter Seth O'Farrell travelled to the World Investment Conference organised by Waipa (the World Association of Investment Promotion Agencies), held in Geneva between 12 and 14 September, to find out what IPA directors had to say in all of this.This podcast episode explores the extent to which IPAs are at a juncture as their role changes into a more proactive one, how concerns over energy security are shaping the sustainability agenda and what the so-called “future” of FDI looks like in a more turbulent, competitive context. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

The beginning of 2022 has been among the most turbulent in recent memory. Since Russia began its invasion of Ukraine on February 24, millions of people have fled the country. Alongside billions of dollars worth of damage in Ukraine, the war has caused global prices for everything from fuel to food to soar. Multilateral institutions have subsequently downgraded their economic forecasts for many countries around the world.In this joint podcast from fDi Intelligence and the Banker, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Burhan Khadbai discuss what is concerning policymakers, bankers and investors most during this period of uncertainty. Based on conversations with attendees at the EBRD's 2022 annual meeting and business forum held from 10-12 May in Marrakech, Morocco, this podcast explores themes including the EBRD's engagement in Morocco, the wide-ranging impacts of war in Ukraine and why the green transition must be inclusive. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Famous for The Beatles, football and its waterfront, Liverpool is also a notable case study in cultural urban regeneration. It won its bid to become European Capital of Culture in 2008 and has since become a popular city break destination, attracting over 50m tourists a year pre-pandemic.Claire McColgan, director of Culture Liverpool, talks to fDi about the impact of the award on the city, how it grew in confidence and the experience of Liverpool losing its Unesco World Heritage Status last year as a result of developments on the docks. Now, weakened by the pandemic due to its exposure to the visitor economy, Claire reflects on where the city is headed next and how it can retain its distinctiveness. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Tate Modern needs little introduction. As one of the most recognisable museums in the world, it has helped put London on the map as an international art and cultural centre. But perhaps less often discussed is its contribution towards the transformation of London's waterfront in what could be described as a “Tate Modern effect”. In conversation with Seth O'Farrell, Frances Morris stresses that throughout the museum's history, it has engaged the local community so as not to “parachute” into an area it had little to do with. But challenges have emerged with the encroachment of privatisation and neighbouring commercial developments. Now, with the increasing need for private funding, the pandemic and the climate crisis, Ms Morris is confident that the museum can step up to the plate as the demands on the "museum of the 21st century" change once more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Covid-19 has disrupted global supply chains in everything from semiconductors to vaccines. Jennifer Bisceglie, the CEO and founder of supply chain risk company Interos, has spent over two decades helping organisations reduce risk and avoid disruption in their supply chains.From her base in Arlington, Virginia, Ms Bisceglie joins fDi's regular start-up podcast to discuss global supply chains and Interos' recent crowning as a unicorn, or private company valued above $1bn. Listeners can expect a candid discussion on how businesses can manage supply chain disruption, what is needed to empower female entrepreneurs in the US and the reality of being a founder in Arlington. This episode was recorded on November 11 2021. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Software as a service (SaaS) platforms are particularly scalable, making them highly sought after by both venture capital and public market investors. The journey of Freshworks, a provider of SaaS to help businesses engage with their customers, is a case in point. Since being founded in the Indian city of Chennai in 2010, Freshworks has moved its headquarters to San Mateo, California and in September 2021 listed on the Nasdaq stock exchange at a valuation of $10.1bn.Girish Mathrubootham, the founder and CEO of Freshworks, joined fDi's Rising Ecosystems podcast to discuss his experiences as an entrepreneur in Chennai, the changes from taking his software company public and why he believes more global software companies will emerge from India.This episode was recorded on October 29. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

When Harpa Concert Hall opened in 2011, it was met with anger and dismay as the fallout from the banking crisis still roiled Iceland. Now, the honeycombed glass structure, which doubles up as a conference centre, boasts an approval rating of over 70% and is a main attraction for foreign visitors who come to visit Reykjavik.As it celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, Svanhildur Konráðsdóttir tells fDi how the concert hall has gone from being perceived as a symbol of greed to a source of pride and why the added dimension of being a conference centre has proved so successful. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Katowice offers its visitors something alternative to picturesque Krakow, only 70km away. Once the industrial heartland of communist Poland, the city and surrounding region of Upper Silesia was synonymous with coal and far from being perceived as a hub for the arts. As the coal mines were closed down in the mid-1990s, there was also a push to make Katowice, known as “the city of music”, into a cultural centre.Ewa Bogusz-Moore, director of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra (NOSPR), tells fDi how the city's pre-existing legacy with classical music helped kick start its cultural rejuvenation and why the pandemic has shone a spotlight on new ways of engaging music lovers. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Mexico City-based Kavak, an online used car marketplace start-up now valued at $8.7bn, is on a mission to improve transparency, safety and access to financing in the used car market across Latin America.Carlos Garcia Ottati, a serial entrepreneur who founded Kavak in 2016 after leading other notable start-ups across the region, joined fDi's Rising Ecosystems podcast to discuss Kavak's backstory, his outlook for the used car market and what is unique about building a start-up in Latin America.Listener's can expect a frank conversation about the influence of e-commerce platform Linio's on Mexico's ecosystem, the unique challenges facing entrepreneurs in emerging markets and why Mr Garcia Ottati believes the best talent should join start-ups. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Rapid grocery delivery services have raised eye-watering funding and expanded rapidly this year. Istanbul-based Getir, the start-up that pioneered the 10-minute delivery model now valued at $7.5bn, is expanding its operations across Europe and soon into the US.Nazim Salur, Getir's CEO and co-founder, joined fDi's regular start-up podcast to discuss the on-demand grocery delivery market, the company's growth plans and Istanbul's burgeoning start-up community. Listener's can expect a frank conversation about Istanbul's foreign funding shortfall, the need for Turkish founders to hold onto equity in their companies and why Mr Salur believes all delivery apps can employ their workers. This episode was recorded on August 11. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

This week, we travel up from Bilbao to Arles in Provence, France, where the Luma Arles Tower was unveiled over the summer. Luma Arles itself spans art, design, performance, research and ecology and sits on a defunct rail yard site. Like Bilbao's Guggenheim, the centrepiece for the $175m multi-disciplinary arts complex was designed by American architect Frank Gehry.Maja Hoffmann, founder and president of the Luma Foundation, tells fDi how Luma Arles looks to create more of a “Luma effect” rather than the “Bilbao effect” as it implants itself locally before addressing its global audience. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The Bilbao Effect is a term bandied around to describe how a cultural institution can reignite the local economy of a disaffected city or area. In this new podcast series, we want to look closely at different case studies to understand how culture can provide a boost to urban development. Juan Ignacio Vidarte, director general of the Guggenheim Bilbao, talks to fDi's Seth O'Farrell to delve beneath the myths of the Basque city's transformation and assess whether its world renowned effects can be replicated. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Can culture boost economic development? "The Bilbao Effect" is a new podcast series from fDi Intelligence hosted by Seth O'Farrell, looking at the role of culture and cultural institutions in the economic development of cities. Premiering September 24. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Fast growing companies relocate their headquarters for many reasons, and GetYourGuide is no different. After being founded in Zurich in 2009, the experience booking platform decided to move their main office to Berlin in 2018, aiming to leverage the city's growing start-up expertise and appeal to tech talent.Tao Tao, GetYourGuide's co-founder and chief operating officer, joined fDi's regular start-up podcast to discuss tourism trends during the pandemic and what has made Germany's capital such a successful tech hub. Listeners can expect to learn more about GetYourGuide's journey, the funding landscape in Berlin and what needs to change to ensure the city stays competitive in the global war for talent.The Tourism Investment Report 2021 referenced in this episode can be found here. This episode was recorded on July 21. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

An explosion in the popularity of Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies has been a boon for trading platforms this year, with Vienna-based Bitpanda among them.Having ridden a wave of retail investor interest in digital assets, crypto trading platform Bitpanda became Austria's first “unicorn” – private company valued at above $1bn – after its Series B funding round in March, bringing global attention to Vienna's growing start-up scene.Lukas Enzersdorfer-Konrad, Bitpanda's chief product officer, joined fDi's regular start-up podcast series to discuss the crypto craze and the reality of scaling a business in Vienna. Listeners can expect discussion of topics ranging from Vienna's appeal as a city, the challenges of attracting talent and nascent knowledge exchange in the ecosystem.On August 17, Bitpanda raised $263m in its Series C funding round at a valuation of $4.1bn. This episode was recorded on June 29 before this latest funding round. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Co-hosts Yessi and Alex wrap up season one of the podcastTo conclude their virtual tour of UK tech communities, co-hosts Yessi and Alex give their take on the current state of the UK's start-up scene, summarising the six ecosystems featured so far.Yessi and Alex discuss topics such as the humility of entrepreneurs and affordability of cities outside London, the later stage funding gap, mental health and more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

fDi speaks to Stephanie Locke and Neil Cocker about the start-up community in Cardiff.In this seventh episode, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez head to Cardiff in Wales to find out what's happening with entrepreneurship on the ground. Joining the show to provide their candid take on Cardiff's start-up ecosystem are Neil Cocker, the co-founder of local tech community Cardiff Start and CEO of Ramp, a business that's changing how people buy t-shirts for events and teams; and Stephanie Locke, the CEO of Nightingale HQ, which provides businesses with expert support and tools to manage the successful adoption of AI.Listeners can expect a frank discussion of topics ranging from the cost advantages of starting a business in Cardiff, an overview of the Welsh government's support, the city's startup fabric, and the challenges faced by entrepreneurs in the ecosystem. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Min Ye, associate professor of international relations at the Pardee School of Global Studies at Boston University, Min Ye talks to fDi's Seth O'Farrell about how China's economic policy was born of crisis, not desire for control.The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the economic development strategy adopted in 2013, has undergone various permutations in Chinese and global imaginaries alike. Far from aligning with the view that it is the expression of a one-party state looking to dominate the region, Ms Ye examines the BRI from a domestic perspective in her recently published The Belt Road and Beyond: State mobilised globalisation in China, 1998–2018. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In part two of the sixth episode exploring the entrepreneurial landscape of UK cities, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez continue their remote journey to Belfast.Featuring the same two guests as part one – Belfast City Council' digital innovation commissioner Jayne Brady, and Henry Joseph-Grant, a serial entrepreneur and start-up mentor – this digs deeper into some of the challenges and opportunities in Northern Ireland's start-up community.Listeners can expect a candid conversation about the misconceptions and perils of raising venture capital funding, why marketing the success of Belfast's ecosystem is the next key step and the potential downsides of competition for talent between start-ups and foreign companies. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In part one of the sixth episode exploring the entrepreneurial landscape of UK cities, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez travel remotely to Belfast.Joining the show are two guests born in Northern Ireland, who discuss why they both returned home after years of diverse work experience abroad in multinationals, venture capital and start-ups.Jayne Brady, who is the digital innovation commissioner at Belfast City Council, discusses how policy and major development projects are aiming to push the ecosystem to the next level. Henry Joseph-Grant, who is a serial entrepreneur and start-up mentor, gives a candid perspective on Belfast's pros and cons, and why he believes it's now a good place to start and grow a business.Listeners can expect an open discussion of Belfast's critical mass in the cyber security and services sectors, the issue of ‘brain drain', how start-ups are being used to heal the wounds of the Troubles, and much, much more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the fifth episode of this bi-weekly series, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez explore the entrepreneurial landscape in the UK's second largest city Birmingham.Joining the show to provide their take on the start-up scene is Hilary Smyth-Allen, the executive lead at Supertech WM, a cross-sector partnership that promotes Birmingham and the West Midland region's growing professional tech cluster. The second guest is Melissa Snover, the US-born founder and CEO of Rem3dy Heath Group, a Birmingham-based 3D printing start-up that produces personalised health solutions under the brands Nourished and Scripted.With additional comments from Jof Walters, the co-founder of Million Labs, a ‘no-code' company which helps new start-ups launch, this episode provides a deep dive into the key attributes of the Birmingham tech community and its potential to drive the post-Covid economic recovery.Listeners can expect discussion of topics ranging from the cost advantages of starting a business in the West Midlands, the diversity of its talent pool, what's needed from the UK government to keep up its momentum, and much, much more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the fourth episode of this bi-weekly series, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez continue northward through the UK's emerging entrepreneurial ecosystems, exploring the start-up scene in Scotland's most populous city Glasgow.Joining the show to provide their on-the-ground perspectives of the Glaswegian tech community are Dr. Olga Kozlova, the director of innovation and industry engagement at the University of Strathclyde, and Rebecca Pick, the founder and CEO of Glasgow-based security start-up Pick Protection.Listeners can expect a detailed outline of the friendly rivalry between entrepreneurs in Glasgow and its neighbouring city Edinburgh, the strengths of the ecosystem in areas such as advanced manufacturing and health tech, how the start-up scene is being used to help inward investment and what's needed to propel the ecosystem to the next level. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the third episode of this new bi-weekly series, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez continue their exploration of the UK's rising start-up ecosystems, stopping off in West Yorkshire's largest city: Leeds.Joining as guests are two prominent members of the Leeds community, Stuart Clarke, the director of Leeds Digital Festival, and Helen Oldham, the founding board director of NorthInvest. With supplementary comments from Eve Roodhouse at Leeds City Council, this episode provides an on-the-ground perspective of the Northern city's growing start-up scene and digital technology sector.Listeners can expect a deep-dive into Leeds' strengths in areas such as medtech and fintech, the city's focus on diversity and inclusion, and how collaboration between Leeds and its neighbouring Northern cities will be crucial to the levelling up agenda. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second episode of this new bi-weekly series, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez, begin their journey through the UK's rising start-up ecosystems by stopping off at the world-renowned university town of Cambridge.Joining as guests are two active members of the Cambridge community, Tony Raven, the CEO of Cambridge Enterprise, and Leonie Mueck, the chief product officer at quantum computing start-up Riverlane. With some additional comments from Andrew Williamson, the managing director of venture capital fund Cambridge Innovation Capital (CIC), this episode gives a unique on-the ground perspective of what is driving the Cambridge start-up ecosystem.Listeners can expect discussion ranging from the organic growth and historical context of Cambridge as an innovation hub to how the university has helped facilitate entrepreneurship, the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and much much more. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the first episode of this new bi-weekly series, co-hosts Alex Irwin-Hunt and Yessi Bello Perez explore the concept of start-up ecosystems and their importance. Joining as inaugural guests are two maestros of London's start-up scene, Eileen Burbidge and Eric van der Kleij, to discuss the rise of ecosystems across the UK. This episode covers topics from best practices in ecosystem development, the growth of UK tech and the spotlight brought by the pandemic on diversity and inclusion, mental health and sustainability. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ravinder Kaur, professor of Modern South Asian Studies at the University of Copenhagen, explains India's shift from a postcolonial nation to an attractive investment destination. Professor Kaur discusses with fDi's Alex Irwin-Hunt how foreign investment has influenced India's international branding, domestic politics and development within the South Asian region. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Marc Israel of White & Case discusses the UK's new 'voluntary' powers on FDI interventionOn June 23rd, UK Business Secretary Alok Sharma announced that "the UK is open for investment, but not for exploitation", bringing in more powers to intervene in foreign dealmaking. This has given more oversight to businesses involved with the Covid-19 crisis, but also artificial intelligence, advanced materials and cryptographic authentication technology.Marc Israel, a partner with law firm White & Case, connects from London to discuss for the fifth episode of Fortress FDI, our mini-series about rising investment scrutiny and protectionism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Germany is taking a lead in reforming its foreign investment review mechanism to protect sensitive sectors, as well as sensitive technologies like robotics and artificial intelligence that are at the heart of its cutting-edge industrial sector.Daniel Wiedmann, an associated partner with law firm P+P Pöllath + Partners based, connects from Frankfurt for the fourth episode of Fortress FDI, our mini-series about rising investment scrutiny and protectionism. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Following the new guidance issued by the European Commission in March, Italy upgraded its 'golden power' legislation accordingly. Rome now seems even willing to go as far as asking foreign investors in strategic assets to keep jobs and research & development activities within the country on the ground of public order and security. In the third episode of Fortress FDI, our mini-series on rising investment scrutiny and protectionism, Massimo Merola, a partner with Italian law firm Bonelli Erede, discusses the latest changes to Italy's 'golden power' regime with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

(Recorded in Spanish)La zona franca de Barcelona ha hecho de la innovación y de la nueva economía unos de los ejes principales de su plan estratégico. La pandemia del Covid-19 solo ha acelerado esta transición, y el Consorci de la Zona Franca, la entidad pública que administra la zona desde el 1916, esta hoy mas que nunca comprometido en impulsar el futuro de la zona franca como un hub para start-ups y la creación de nuevos empleos y tecnología. En este contexto, el Consorci también ha transformado su típica agenda anual de eventos presenciales en un evento híbrido que tendrá lugar en Barcelona al principio de octubre - el Barcelona New Economy Week.El delegado especial del estado en el Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona, Pere Navarro Morera, nos cuenta del evento y de las nuevas perspectivas de la Zona Franca de Barcelona.Producido en asociación con el Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

In the second episode of Fortress FDI, our mini-series on rising investment scrutiny and protectionism, Paulette Vander Schueren, a partner with law firm Mayer Brown, and Edouard Gergondet, an associate with Mayer Brown, discuss with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni the case of the European Union as the Commission issued new guidance urging each member state to set up a full fledged screening mechanism to monitor foreign investment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Chris Rosario of Squire Patton Boggs joins from Perth as the country reviews any FDI dealCovid-19 has made the argument for investment protectionism stronger as governments across the globe rush to protect strategic assets or even distressed assets from foreign investment and takeover. In this mini-series of podcasts about investment protectionism we will take you around the globe to see how different countries are carving out their own FDI screening mechanisms and what it means for global trade and investment. First stop, Australia, where basically any foreign investment transaction, regardless of its value, is now subject to the review of the Foreign Investment Review Board. Chris Rosario, a partner with law firm Squire Patton Boggs joins podcast host Jacopo Dettoni from Perth to discuss the recent changes introduced by the government led by prime minister Scott Morrison. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Robert Volterra, partner with law firm Volterra Fietta, tells podcast host Jacopo Dettoni that those governments that went too far with their lockdown measures may be exposed to arbitration claims by foreign investors. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Covid-19 has disrupted global markets. While a majority of sectors hope to be able to go back to a "new normal" in the mid-term, others will have to adjust to longer lasting changes. The fDi team singles out three of the sectors that will never be the same again after Covid-19. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The US administration has ramped up its secondary sanctions programmes against those whom it considers rogue states. Today more than ever, non-US companies outside the US jurisdiction are compelled to comply with these sanctions programmes. When UK-based Cynergy Bank refused to pay the interests it owed to a Cyprus-based counterpart, Lamesa Investments, on a £30 million loan stipulated before Lamesa's was caught in the net of US sanctions, the British High Court held that Cynergy's behavior was legit under British law. Joy Macknight, managing editor of The Banker magazine, discusses with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni the implications of the Lamesa-Cynergy case on non-US banks and foreign investors. Also featured in the podcast (in order of appearance):Antonios Tzanakopoulo, associate professor of Public International Law, University of Oxford;David Harris, partner, Norton Rose Fulbright;Iain Stewart-Linnhe, founder, Stewart Linnhe;Leigh Hansson, partner, ReedSmith. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Jon-Paul Doran, CEO & founder of UK medicinal cannabis company Eco Equity, tells fDi's Sebastian Shehadi about his experience of investing in the cannabis market in Zimbabwe and the Carribbean. The global cannabis market is growing at breakneck pace, however, navigating this 'green rush' is not easy and failure rates are extremely high. With cannabis stocks taking a plunge in the second half of 2019, it remains to be seen whether foreign investment in the industry will continue its exponential growth, as witnessed over the last few years. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The new Nafta, renamed the United States – Mexico – Canada (USMCA) agreement, limits the scope for international arbitration and prevents general investors, except those active in a few sensitive sectors, to bypass domestic courts altogether. Orlando Cabrera, an associate lawyer with law firm Hogan Lovells in Mexico City, tells podcast host Jacopo Dettoni that against a background of mounting discontent towards typical investment protection provisions, the USMCA emerges as a possible new global paradigm for investment protection. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

What does the digital economy mean for businesses' international expansion? Nigel Vaz, CEO of digital transformation consultancy Publicis Sapient, discusses with fDi's Alex Irwin-Hunt how digitalisation is changing the need for physical presence in markets, how companies build trust with their customers and how investment promotion agencies support and attract FDI. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Michael Green, CEO of the Social Progress Imperative, tells fDi's Sebastian Shehadi how investors can use metrics around the social and environmental health of societies to make smart, ethical decisions and support projects relating to the Sustainable Development Goals. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The president of the United States, Donald Trump, has made sanctions a distinctive element of his foreign policy. In fact, sanctions appears to have become his foreign-policy weapon of choice. He used (and enforced) them against numerous countries, from China all the way to Venezuela, Iran, North Korea and others. Investors suddenly had to adjust and find ways to deal with the White House's growing level of economic aggressiveness. Matt Oresman, leading lawyer in the international public policy practice at law firm Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman digs deeper into the perils of navigating sanctions regimes with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Plagued by decades of violence and conflict, the country is no ordinary place for doing business. Yet a slowly improving security and political environment is creating space for few pioneer investors to come in and develop a base of local businesses to serve an almost untouched market of 35mn people. British banker Anthony Barned took the gamble to move to Kabul and run a bank, the Afghanistan International Bank (AIB), jointly funded by local and international capital. He discusses with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni the perks and perils of navigating the country's numerous challenges to remain on the positive side of its high risk / high reward business proposition. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

“The Pearl of the Orient” has built a reputation for stability and modernity over the decades, with its iconic financial centre at the heart of it. Now it all hangs in the balance as the mounting protests of the last weeks are lifting the veil on the challenges posed by the “One country, two systems” model as China becomes more assertive in the way it handles the ongoing transition ending in 2047. Early evidence suggests that financial and physical capital is being moved out of the country already. Podcast host Jacopo Dettoni spoke to three expats professionals working in the city's financial and legal industry to get their views on how the current turmoil will impact Hong Kong's future as a global investment hub:Carlos Casanova, economist for the Asia Pacific region at credit insurance firm Coface;Julien Chaisse, law professor at the City University of Hong Kong;Alberto Vettoretti, managing partner at investment advisory firm Dezan Shira. Kevin Loane, senior economist at London-based Fathom Consulting, also joins the discussion from our studio in London. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Cities are in an evermore global competition to attract foreign investment. How can they improve their strategy to stand out? Podcast host Sebastian Shehadi discusses solutions with Alexis Krachai, a founding director of the Sheffield Property Association - a private sector body that helps promote Sheffield internationally - and Peter Griffiths, city strategist at ING Media, a leading PR and communications consultancy for the built environment. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Charles Hecker, senior partner at Control Risk - one of the world's leading political risk consultancies - discusses with podcast host Sebastian Shehadi the geopolitical context behind some of the latest national foreign investment trends highlighted in the fDi Report 2019 - the annual assessment of crossborder investment based on the FT's fDi Markets data service. Countries discussed include: Vietnam, Uzbekistan, the UK, Spain, Colombia, Argentina, Nigeria and Cote D'Ivoire. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Henry Tillman, founder and editor of ChinaInvestmentResearch.com, a research firm that tracks Chinese outbound investment, discusses with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni the changing nature of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and weighs in on the ongoing trade battle between the US and China, which is also affecting the outlook for BRI projects: "The more they [the US] block Huawei, the more they maintain their competitive advantage for artificial intelligence and autonomous technologies". See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Ed Ratcliffe, head of research and advisory at London-based think tank Asia House, discusses the FDI outlook in Indonesia with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni as president Joko “Jokowi” Widodo enters another 5-year term at the helm of the South-East Asian country after winning general elections in April. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The next generation of tourists don't want to feel like tourists when touring. In slightly less cryptic words: travellers are looking more and more for cultural immersion, for more 'authentic, meaningful and social' experiences over material goods. fDi's Sebastian Shehadi and Alex Irwin-Hunt invite Tiffany Misrahi, policy director at the World Travel and Tourism Council, to discuss how the tourism industry is responding to this trend. The growing desire for an 'experience' accompanies the rising trend towards environmental sustainability within tourism. However, lofty ideals and the realities of consumer behaviour are at a mismatch. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Another edition of the annual MIPIM international real estate forum has taken place and the fDi editorial team was there in force. Jacopo Dettoni, Courtney Fingar and Sebastian Shehadi discuss how the large UK delegation carried on investment promotion efforts while a daily stream of Brexit news broke back home, how Industry 4.0 is making manufacturing sexy again, and what business, economic and political risks still lie on the horizon. The podcast features interviews with: · Stefan Schostok, mayor of Hannover;· Pere Navarro, special state delegate at Barcelona's free trade zone (Consorci de la Zona Franca de Barcelona;· Khaled Abbas, Egypt's deputy minister of housing for national projects. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

Dozens of investment promotion agencies (IPAs) from all over the globe gathered at the Waipa investment conference in Xiamen, on the Chinese eastern coast, at the beginning of September. Adrienne Klasa, fDi Magazine's and the Banker's development finance editor, shares her main takeaways from the event, discussing how the trade feud between Washington and Beijing is prompting adjustments in investment promotion strategies in China, Asia and beyond.Features Interviews with: Sun Xinhua, president of Invest ShanghaiHarley Seyedin, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in South ChinaJan Zapletal, director China and southeast Asia at CzechinvestJiang Xiheng, vice president of the Centre for International Knowledge on Development (CIKD)Dong-ik Lee, director general of investment operations at the Asian Infrastructure Investment BankPeter Fuhrman, CEO of China First Capital See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The treaty, signed on July 6, drops tariffs and soft barriers across an area of 600mn people worth a third of the global economy. It also reiterates the role of both parties as champions of global trade right at a time when protectionism is mounting around the globe. Podcast host Jacopo Dettoni speaks to Elitsa Garnizova, a researcher at the London School of Economics, about the treaty's impact on mutual trade and investment moving forward, and its implications for Japanese investment in the UK as Brexit's March 2019 deadline approaches. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.

The prime minister of Thailand, General Prayut Chan-ocha, has just wrapped up his first official visits to the UK and France since seizing power in a 2014 coup. He met with prime minister Theresa May in London and president Emmanuel Macron in Paris to give reassurances that a long-delayed transition back to democracy will take place - with elections now announced for February 2019 - and to promote the government's Thailand 4.0 vision to stimulate the economy. Dr Lee Jones, reader in international politics at Queen Mary University of London, shares his thoughts on the political and economic situation in the country with podcast host Jacopo Dettoni. See acast.com/privacy for privacy and opt-out information.