WIIW The Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies - Wiener Institut für Internationale Wirtschaftsvergleiche

​FDI in Central, East and Southeast Europe

• The new trade policies in the US have so far not brought much investment into the country
  by Olga Pindyuk
   
• Mostly gloomy outlook with a few bright spots  
  by Olga Pindyuk and Doris Hanzl-Weiss 
  Most countries in CESEE finished 2024 with foreign direct investment stocks (as a share of GDP) lower than in 2021, the year before the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Also more recently, CESEE countries have been struggling to maintain their attractiveness to foreign investors, with the number of greenfield projects announced in the region in January-September 2025 reaching its lowest level for six years. China has further strengthened its role as one of the main investors in CESEE, having significantly increased the capital pledged for greenfield projects this year. Kazakhstan has become the main destination for greenfield capital, accounting for 40% of capital pledged to the entire CESEE region, mostly owing to the influx of Chinese investment.
   
• Forecasts of main economic indicators for Central, East and Southeast Europe for 2025-2027