Trade, Investment and International Competitiveness

This book provides a comparative analysis of economic linkages between Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). It examines both similarities and structural differences shaping relations between the two regions, offering an analysis which is firmly situated in the current geopolitical context, and contributing to theoretical and applied debates on competitiveness, development, and international economic integration. The volume focuses on key areas such as socio-economic development, trade, export promotion, foreign direct investment (FDI), global production networks, labour-market effects, innovation cooperation, the green transition and firm-level market entry. Quantitative chapters use international datasets and econometric analysis, while qualitative and case-study chapters examine institutions, policy frameworks and business experience, including Poland–MENA and Estonia–Oman cases. By connecting macroeconomic, policy and firm-level perspectives, it helps readers identify existing areas of cooperation, unrealised potential and the institutional and strategic factors that may strengthen future trade, investment and innovation links. The primary audience for the book is scholars and postgraduate researchers in international economics, international business, trade and investment, development studies, and area studies, and will also appeal to policymakers and practitioners in these fields.