Eastern Promise

Low costs and the availability of quality scientists and technicians are encouraging multinationals to set up in Central & Eastern European (CEE) countries. But the cost gap is narrowing with the West, and manufacturing and assembly is gradually playing a smaller role in sustaining the economies of the accession countries - could this be causing companies to move further East?

Questions include:

• Why did Nokia consider Hungary a reasonable prospect for setting up an R&D centre?



• What factors would you take into consideration when selecting a destination?



• Where do you think the next generation of skilled personnel will come from?