Insight

Anyone who's spent time in one of the major cities in northern Europe will be familiar with the variety of municipal bike schemes on offer.  For years, community groups have promoted bicycle sharing as an easily accessible alternative to motorised travel, a way to reduce the environmental impact of commuting as well as enable residents to become healthier through exercise.  Recently, governments and public bodies have taken up the mantle, promoting bike sharing systems as part of 'intermodal transportation', allowing people to shift easily from other forms of transport to bicycle and back again. 

The Olympic Games have long been used as a catalyst for urban planning and regeneration.  You need look no further than London’s 2012 games for evidence of that.  This particular event has given planners an unparalleled opportunity to revitalise Stratford in the city’s East End – effectively waving a magic wand over great swathes of parts of London that have underachieved for the last century.

Green companies have particularly good business possibilities in Region Zealand. Testing facilities, research and competencies are available and more than 170 million DKKR (23 mil. EUR) are spent on climate projects.

Better climate, sustainable energy and green environment are on the agenda in Region Zealand. The region wants to motivate companies working in the industry and investment firms to join.

Dr.Khater Massaad CEO of RAKIA

Ras Al Khaimah (RAK) has been the embodiment of a stable, growing, resilient and hard-working society whose economic success continues to resonate across the Middle East. Though not awash with hydrocarbon deposits – a key resource that has fuelled the economic growth of its neighbouring emirates and other countries in the GCC – RAK has defied the odds and has witnessed outstanding GDP growth and macroeconomic stability in recent years, building on a highly successful economic diversification program that has created a major influx of capital and investment opportunities for the emirate.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a constitutional federation of seven emirates: Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Sharjah, Ajman, Umm Al Qaiwain, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah, and was formally established in 1971. The Federation occupies an area of 83,600 sq km along the southeastern tip of the Arabian Peninsula. Qatar lies to the west, Saudi Arabia to the south and west, and Oman to the north and east. The capital, and largest city of the federation, Abu Dhabi, is located in the emirate of the same name. 

Before 1971, the UAE was known as the Trucial States or Trucial Oman, in reference to a 19th century truce between the United Kingdom and several Arab Sheikhs. The more colourful ‘Pirate Coast’ was also used in reference to the area's emirates from the 18th to the early 20th century. Today the region's political system is based on the 1971 Constitution, composed of several intricately connected governing bodies. Islam is the official religion, and Arabic the official language. 

Introduction

The Netherlands has a rich history of capital projects. Our historical battle against flooding has forced us to carry out massive projects such as the Delta Works, land reclamation and the construction of dykes. These directly illustrate the main characteristics of capital projects: large-scale projects with a clear public interest, commissioned by the central government and undertaken in cooperation with commercial contractors. These projects have been of such a scale and complexity (and therefore involving such a high risk profile) that their performance has always been in the spotlight.

The Polish zloty is looking cheap compared to the euro once again, which suggests that it will be FDI money that maintains Poland’s recovery through 2010 and beyond. 

According to the National Bank of Poland the estimated FDI inflow to Poland as of the end of October 2009 reached 6 billion euros.  In fact, analysts and officials are now revising upwards their growth forecasts, with the market expecting Poland's economy to expand by 2.4 percent in 2010.

When Tony Hayward became BP's chief executive in 2007 he inherited the top position of a company reeling from 15 deaths and a further 170 injuries at a refinery in Texas and the ignominy of a fractured pipeline spoiling the natural balance of Alaska.  Hayward entered the role promising to “restore confidence” with sweeping changes.