The governor of Tennessee, Bill Haslam, tells Michal Kaczmarski how his background in business shapes his approach to seeking investment and why there is more to his home state than whiskey.

The US state of Delaware is emerging from its post-industrial decline to embrace investment opportunities and make the most of its geographical location, says its governor, Jack Markell.

For decades, Cape Verde thought about little beyond attracting Portuguese-speaking tourists to the island chain. Now, however, it is widening its tourism appeal and, as the country's finance minister explains, making efforts to establish itself as a key location for shipping, ICT and service centres, among other sectors.

The city of Suzhou may be dwarfed by nearby Shanghai, but that has not stopped it from outperforming its neighbour when it comes to attracting investment, thanks largely to its appetite for innovation and willingness to embrace cutting-edge technology, particularly within its industrial parks.

Car manufacturers are investing their way out of the doldrums by upping their efforts when it comes to R&D, and increasingly partnering with academic institutions to stay ahead of the competition.

Years of sluggish economic growth and the political deadlock of recent months have seen the US's AAA credit rating once again come under risk, but could the country's pro-FDI stance and shale gas-fuelled energy boom be about to alleviate some of this pressure?

Countries throughout sub-Saharan Africa are increasingly keen to show off their tourism credentials to international travellers. But while visitor numbers are on the rise, the region's dated infrastructure and poor image are proving to be tough obstacles to overcome.

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.

Remote and robust, New Zealand managed to avoid the worst of the global economic downturn, and while its exports remain strong, the country's finance minister says that oil exploration being carried out could elevate it to another level.