Singapore may be the leading international financial centre in south-east Asia, but Kuala Lumpur is looking to narrow the gap through becoming a regional hub for Islamic finance as well as catering for more conventional financial institutions through its Tun Razak Exchange.

Part of China's shift away from manufacturing and towards more value-added sectors has seen it focus more on innovation and design. With an exponential rise in the number of Chinese students taking creative arts courses and a record number of design patents registered in recent years, it seems as if the country's creative juices are really starting to flow.

The Tennessee Valley Authority's remit – a federally owned utility company with responsibilities towards community development in a vast area of the US's south-east – means that it stands out from other energy companies and development agencies. Indeed, this unusual structure is working to it advantage when it comes to attracting investment to the region.

The fastest growing sector for FDI in 2013, the communications industry has seen a huge influx of investment in the past year, and with new technologies evolving at a pace, the demand for future capital expenditure is only set to grow.

Cologne's status as a hub for industries across myriad sectors is in no small part down to its excellent road, rail, river and air links, which put the rest of Europe within easy reach.

Cologne's status as a 'place to be' for young people gives the city an advantage when it comes to digital and hi-tech industries, a fact not lost on the likes of Electronic Arts, IBM and Microsoft, which are located within the city.

The continued presence of other leading aerospace and aviation companies, close proximity to three large airports and close links with educational establishments combine to give Cologne confidence that its aerospace sector can rise above the loss of Lufthansa’s headquarters.