8 new EU states including Lithuania likely to attract most foreign investment, forecasts the Financial Times

Lithuania together with seven other new EU member states makes up one of the three subregions in Eastern and Central Europe, which is likely to attract most foreign investments and to be the fastest growing, according to forecasts of the Financial Times. The second subregion consists of Romania, Bulgaria and other Balkan countries and the third includes Russia, the Ukraine and Moldova. At present Eastern and Central Europe is the fastest growing region in the world. Different analysts forecast that the GDP growth in the region will be about 6%, whereas in Western Europe it will make up only 2%. In Northern America the economy will grow by 4%-4.5%, and in Asian countries by about 5%. The fast economic growth of the new EU member states will be stimulated by trade with old EU member states and EU support. Good economic forecasts have a positive effect on the decisions of international companies who tend to choose Eastern and Central Europe for investments much more often. Analysts forecast that green-field investments and mergers and acquisitions will be the most popular ways of investing in new EU member states, as privatisation there is almost over.