Sister city partnerships are not in themselves conduits to economic flows. For both cities to benefit from a partnership, the coupling must be chosen carefully, with relevant connections between the two locations that can translate into real business opportunities.

As Spain claws its way out of recession, investors are diving back in, keen to make the most of bottom-of-the-cycle prices and newly competitive cost structures. 

Macedonia’s finance minister and deputy PM, Zoran Stavreski, explains why his country’s EU candidate status allows it greater flexibility on taxes and incentives than other countries in the union can offer

The Georgian capital of Tbilisi still has pockets of unpleasant scenery. However, impressive new buildings are now cropping up all over the city – partly in preparation for its hosting of the 2015 European Youth Olympic Festival – and its mayor says that he hopes these investments are just a start.

The Black Sea region sits along vital trade routes, connecting Asia and Europe, but its disjointed transport connections and dearth of intraregional trade has held it back. Can a raft of port modernisation projects finally bring a joined-up approach?