Target Groups, Competitors and Organization of FDI Promotion in Central-Eastern European Regions

Since the beginning of systemic change growing flows of foreign direct investments (FDI) have been perceived as an important source of capital, technology and employment for restructuring regional economies of Central-Eastern Europe (CEE). FDI inflows stimulate competition between nations and, what remains unpopular to recognize, regions within individual country. Increasing contest for lucrative FDI projects requires regional authorities to actively compete and promote their areas. Yet still there is a deficiency of systematic cross-national studies identifying good practice and assisting policy-making. Regional promotion practices established by the post-industrial cities of the western economies require adjustments to Central-Eastern European Countries (CEEC) reality, however the level of importance assigned by the regional authorities to this still somewhat new policy tool vary across the countries. Using the data collected in census of Czech, Polish and Slovak regional authorities this contribution explores the nature of CEE regional promotion and identifies some emergent approaches.