Utility companies hoping to win new business are finding it is not enough just to have a good delivery record. As Erika Morphy reports, expanding their customer bases through investment promotion is more critical than ever.

Afghanistan boasts a wealth of natural assets, including metals, minerals and gemstones. The government is keen to open up the mining sector to investment but first needs to reform legislation.

The wave of reconstruction under way in Afghanistan is fuelling demand for supplies, giving locally based producers an advantage, writes James Eedes.

Over the past 12 months, the number of cross-border investment projects in the life sciences sector has increased. These investments have been driven by partnering and R&D rather than manufacturing or supply chain support. The overall number of jobs created has, therefore, declined.

With the old textile quota regime abolished, producers are repositioning themselves to capture a piece of the global market. Courtney Fingar reports on the likely winners and losers.

The new year brought a new look for the global textile market, with the expiry of a quota system that has coloured it for three decades. Whether this is an improvement on the old look depends on who you ask.

The World Trade Organisation’s Multi-Fibre Agreement, which ended on January 1 this year, is now viewed by many as having distorted world textile trade.

Tourism is a big employer and income earner in Europe, and hotel investment can be seen as a barometer of the industry’s health.

Ernst & Young’s Real Estate Advisory Services annual corporate real estate survey (2005) of multinationals operating in Europe concludes that there is a growing awareness of real estate as a supporting asset.

The previous 2004 study showed corporate real estate in the Netherlands was a neglected “business tool for success”, especially when comparing with real estate management in the US and the UK. The new study finds that companies give more priority to their core business and competences.

Namibia Breweries attracted the attention of two beverage giants that were seeking a way into South Africa’s beer market. Ashleigh Lezard reports on the potential of the joint venture for all partners.

Airbus and Boeing are both preparing for take off with their new aircraft and the arch rivals are providing a lift for the entire commercial aerospace sector. Karen E Thuermer reports on the worldwide impact for manufacturers, suppliers and researchers.

Rotherham offers an investment environment for the ambitious

If companies are going to think big, they need partners whose ambitions can match and support their own. The track record of Rotherham, at the heart of the UK, shows that it not only has big ideas but that it makes them work, to the benefit of its people and its business sector. Two of its latest projects are a 20-year regeneration of its town centre, which is already under way, and an ambitious £250m project to create a national and international leisure destination and up to 2500 jobs.