The US manufacturing industry is trying to boost production and competitiveness by utilising advanced manufacturing techniques. But while the hardware and technology is ready for deployment, there are concerns that the country's workforce lacks the appropriate skills to oversee these news processes.

As US companies eye opportunities in the growing economies of Central and South America, businesses in Europe and Asia are increasingly using their operations in US cities as an entry point to Latin American markets.

With government commitment to the US aerospace industry seemingly waning, many are predicting a skills shortage in the near future. Given the rapid developments in the aerospace industry globally, particularly in China, are the days of Western domination in this field numbered?

The world's economic balance is shifting, and sovereign wealth funds are starting to cut their exposure to developed economies and head towards emerging markets. But facing challenges such as limited availability of 'free-float' equity, the move does not come without risk.

The Ohio city of Columbus has been one of the US's investment success stories of the past decade. Its mayor tells fDi how a road-building programme, the development of its central district, and the time-honoured tactic of visiting as many would-be investors as possible are paying dividends.

In many of the world's major cities, traffic gridlock comes as standard. With such high number of vehicles on the roads leading to heavy pollution and frustratingly long commuting times, the case for mass rapid-transit systems is becoming increasingly difficult for many cities to ignore.