With EU accession and a strengthening economy, Romanians may be increasingly positive about their future, but tough challenges remain. Neil Tyler reports.

Of the BRIC countries, India and China have been the driving forces on the outsourcing front. Now Russia – with its smaller, highly qualified team model – is stepping into the fray. Dan Barnes reports.

Ben Aris reports on Ukraine’s rapid economic growth that should fuel a flurry of IPO activity this year.

The wave of flotations that began in 2005 continues and some of the big banks have been joining the fray. Christopher Pala reports from Almaty on the positive effects on political risk.

Whether responsibility for banking supervision in the EU lies with national central banks or with separate agencies, it must be able to stand up to pressure, argues Jean Lemierre.

Russia dominated the bonds and equities scenes last year but this year there are likely to be opportunities for small corporates and second-tier banks in other CEE countries to join the fray, writes Michael Marray.

Zsigmond Jarai
Governor, Magyar Nemzeti Bank, Hungary

Jan Cienski reports from Warsaw on the adrenaline-fuelled journey from commercial diver to billionaire banking mogul of Getin Holding founder Leszek Czarnecki.

A series of mergers have given UralSib a highly diversified profile and turned it into Russia’s largest privately owned commercial bank. Ben Aris reports from Moscow.

Based in western Siberia, Sibacadembank has been expanding virtually unopposed, attracting international suitors and making plans to float. Chairman Igor Kim talks to Ben Aris.