Amid increased uncertainty over the future of US-China trade, Guangzhou is continuing to pull in investment from major North American companies. The city's vice-mayor, Cai Chaolin, tells Karen E Thuermer why he attributes this to a focus on cultivating sophisticated and hi-tech industries.

Numerous countries throughout Asia are embracing the start-up culture and hoping to win themselves the tag of 'Asia's Silicon Valley'. Jacopo Dettoni looks at the contenders and assesses the hurdles they face in emulating the famous Californian cluster.

Investment firm VinaCapital is leveraging off Vietnam’s impressive growth as state-owned enterprises are privatised or private businesses are floated, attracting interest from foreign multinationals. But the key to its strategy is ensuring benefits feed back into the local economy, as managing director Andy Ho tells Natasha Turak.

The Maldives has navigated global financial crises and political instability while maintaining tourism growth and leading the world in environmental innovation. The country's minister of tourism, Moosa Zameer, tells Natasha Turak how he intends to stay ahead of the game.

With capital Malé overcrowded and the rest of its population scattered across almost 200 islands, providing key services to the people of the Maldives provides the country's authorities with a headache. With this in mind, the government has been developing a 'second city' on an island near Malé, in which it hopes a large number of Maldivians will choose to live. Natasha Turak reports.

Environmental issues are a prime concern for the Maldives, as rising sea levels threaten its twin industries of tourism and fishing. Besides lobbying on international measures to mitigate climate change, the government is focusing on managing sanitation and promoting renewable energy locally, as Natasha Turak discovers. 

Fish are a major natural resource for the Maldives, providing dietary protein and supporting an industry employing one-fifth of the population. Now the country, which is proud of its credentials in sustainability, is keen to develop value-added production, fisheries and agriculture minister Mohamed Shainee tells Natasha Turak.

The Maldives is renowned all over the world as an idyllic beach destination, a reputation it has worked hard to cultivate. However, as Natasha Turak discovers, investment opportunities abound on the island chain, as it looks to diversify its economy and safeguard its future.