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Join the Great Lakes Economic Development Council (Great Lakes EDC) for the latest installment of our Be Greater! digital learning series.
Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) remains a powerful driver of economic growth, but today’s landscape is rapidly shifting. This webinar explores how geopolitical changes, emerging technologies, and the green transition are redefining global FDI—focusing especially on the Great Lakes region of North America.
We'll cover the fundamentals of FDI, what drives it, and its role in sustainable growth. Learn about emerging global trends, new industry opportunities, and how shifting supply chains and regional blocs are impacting investment flows.
Discover data-driven insights on FDI performance across Ontario, Quebec, and eight U.S. Great Lakes states. Explore key sectors, top investor markets, and what makes the region a magnet for global capital.
The session will also highlight proven strategies for attracting and retaining FDI—through data, storytelling, and partnerships—followed by a live Q&A.
About FT Locations and fDi Markets
FT Locations is the Financial Times’ global center of excellence for foreign direct investment, offering data-driven insights, market intelligence, and strategic support to EDOs and governments around the world.
fDi Markets is our proprietary real-time database tracking global greenfield investment projects, used by leading agencies and corporates to shape their FDI strategy.
Our Presenters:
Chris Knight
Managing Director, FT Locations
Chris has been working in the field of FDI and advising governments for over 16 years. Worked with over 80 economic development organizations worldwide in all aspects of FDI. Extensive experience working across Europe, North America, Africa, Latin America and Caribbean, and the Middle East. Chris is an expert trainer for IEDC, WAIPA, AIM, COMESA, IDB and has led major FDI events and seminars for IPAs globally including training workshops for over 120 EDO/IPAs in over 30 countries. Training highlights -African Development Bank - investment promotion training for Sierra Leone investment promotion agency -ProColombia - Chris ran a 3-day interactive workshop with regional IPA’s focusing on lead generation -BITC Botswana - Facilitated a workshop focusing on their investment promotion strategy development with their management & Board -Ran a 2-day workshop in Egypt for the Export-Import Bank of Africa - focusing on how to run investment forums; attracting FDI; and creating an investment promotion strategy -Key trainer at the World Forum for FDI in Edinburgh focusing on the topic of “Attracting FDI in the New Age” -Ran a 1-day Wavteq training workshop in New York for Global IPA’s focusing on using Digital Technology for FDI.
Agnese Sturmane,
Business Development Executive
FT Locations
With over 15 years of international experience in both the public and private sectors, Agnese Sturmane has helped businesses successfully expand across borders. She has a proven track record in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction, investment promotion strategy, and business development.
Agnese previously served as the Economic and Commercial Counselor for Latvia in China, where she facilitated FDI flows from China to Latvia and advised Latvian companies on trade regulations, market-entry, and expansion strategies. She has had hands-on experience in investment lead generation, retention, and investor relationship management.
Agnese is currently a Business Development Executive at FT Locations, where she supports investment promotion agencies (IPAs), economic development organizations (EDOs), and businesses in strengthening their foreign direct investment (FDI) strategies through innovative software tools and targeted outreach.
Passionate about international business, politics, economics, and cross-cultural collaboration, she brings a global perspective to her work. Agnese has traveled to over 50 countries and lived in five across three continents.
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