The fDi Personalities of the Year awards recognise the political and business leaders around the world who have been the most proactive, dynamic and innovative in encouraging foreign investment and improving the business environments of their jurisdictions. Regional winners are selected for Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, the Middle East and North America; out of these candidates a global winner is chosen. Meet this year’s standouts.

The private sector did not exist in the emirate of Abu Dhabi three years ago, according to chamber of commerce president Salah Salem Bin Omeir Al Shamsi. “The government’s vision is for the private sector to lead the development of Abu Dhabi to create a true global capital,” he says, crediting Abu Dhabi’s successful economic growth in recent years to the leadership of his royal highness the crown prince of Abu Dhabi.

Angola’s finance minister José Pedro de Morais is a man of action in a continent that is so often dogged by the absence of advancement.

The minister has been at the forefront of rebuilding his country’s fortunes following a 27-year civil war that ended in 2002, from one of Africa’s poorest nations to one of the continent’s fastest-growing economies.

Vikrom Kromadit, chief executive of Thai industrial estate developer Amata Corporation, lives in a floating house in the middle of a lake in a national park in Thailand. From there, in addition to running his publicly listed company, he pens a series of autobiographical self-help books; he also hosts a popular call-in radio show called CEO Vision.

Knowing that innovation is the path to succeeding in a knowledge-based global economy is crucial; making it an economic reality is just as important though not quite so straightforward.

Brazil compounded its position as Latin America’s top investment destination in 2007, with a leap of almost 84% in FDI on the previous year.

Brazil won a $34.6bn share of Latin America’s $106bn incoming investment for 2007, making it the most significant period of growth in FDI that Brazil has ever seen.

When the US government negotiated a final settlement with its indigenous groups in 1971, native peoples in Alaska chose not to go onto reservations like those in the continental US. Instead, they opted for a more businesslike arrangement – one that has paid huge dividends in the years since.

At a cocktail reception in Cannes in March, fDi magazine presented its European Cities & Regions of the Future awards for 2008/09.

The UK sweeps the board in this year’s European Cities & Regions of the Future, with London and Scotland leading the rankings. Charles Piggott reports on the results

Ceremony recognising achievements of political and business leaders around the world hosted by India for the first time.

As minister for commerce and industry in one of the world’s fastest growing economies, Kamal Nath has played a pivotal role in bringing India centre-stage in the global economy.

Vincent Gadou Kragbé, chairman and CEO of VITIB, and special adviser to the president of Côte d’Ivoire, has lofty ambitions for the country: to transform it into a financial power and regional development hub.

In an increasingly risk-obsessed world, risk management is high on the agenda, and locations that can demonstrate proven resilience are catching the attention of investors.

If Sergio Fajardo Valderrama, the dashing, denim-wearing mayor of Medellín, Colombia, does not come across as an average politician, that is because he is not. A mathematician who became fed up with the old political power structures and ran for office in 2003, Mr Fajardo has brought a distinct air of change to a city that needed it desperately.

With an eye to accelerating development and boosting FDI inflows, the government of Ras Al Khaimah (part of the United Arab Emirates) established an investment authority under the chairmanship of HH Sheikh Saud Bin Saqr Al Qasimi, crown prince and deputy ruler, in 2005.

Chicago, Juarez, Windsor and Zapata are the top cities in fDi’s North American Cities of the Future 2007/08 rankings. Charles Piggott reports on the leading performers among major, large, small and micro cities.