Two years after Serdar Berdymukhammedov replaced his father as president of Turkmenistan, hope that the younger man would reform one of the world’s most closed societies have all but evaporated. When the eccentric Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov stepped down as Turkmen president in … | Continue reading
Family businesses in Central and Eastern Europe represent more than just economic entities; they embody a unique blend of tradition, resilience, and adaptability. In Central and Eastern Europe (CEE), as elsewhere, family business is usually associated with the quaint and the en … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter, this week led by … Russia’s war on Ukraine Ukraine is prepared to accept restrictions on its trade with the EU to defuse a bitter political dispute with Poland, but is also urging the bloc to ban Russi … | Continue reading
The eDiscovery Business Confidence Survey is a critical barometer for the global eDiscovery industry, offering insights into business confidence, trends, and challenges. With the advent of Large Language Models (LLMs) and Generative Artificial Intelligence (GenAI), the survey has … | Continue reading
Growth has restarted in Hungary, but the country faces significant economic challenges that will not abate without reform, particularly in education. Hungary’s economy recovered strongly from the Covid-19 pandemic before dipping into a mild recession as high inflation eroded hous … | Continue reading
As hotels shift from on-premise to cloud-based software, a Prague-based company created by hoteliers for hoteliers is leading the transformation. Czechia has a new unicorn. Mews, a Prague-based firm developing software for accommodation services and restaurants, this week announc … | Continue reading
Technology increases productivity. But it also brings about other consequences: it creates, removes and modifies the tasks that are supposed to be performed. This in turn affects the demand for workers with new skills. This is why equipping all young people with the skills to a … | Continue reading
Taiwan’s robust manufacturing sector, particularly in electronics and precision machinery, complements CEE’s strategic initiatives to attract foreign direct investment and bolster technological capabilities. It’s highly unlikely that the issue of whether to pursue closer bilate … | Continue reading
To safeguard Turkey’s democratic resilience, concerted efforts are needed. These efforts should prioritise upholding press freedom, promoting political diversity in media, combatting disinformation through digital literacy and restoring trust in democratic institutions. The 2024 … | Continue reading
Gepard, a leader in AI-enabled Product Information Management (PIM) and end-to-end product data syndication solutions, is inviting businesses to explore its partnership opportunities. With a legacy that traces back to 2005, Gepard has consistently innovated to meet the dynamic ne … | Continue reading
Widespread rumours that Russia was about to annex Moldova’s breakaway territory of Transnistria last week came to nothing. But Moscow and its proxies are likely to continue their attempts to destablise the country in what is a pivotal election year. It began with a news report i … | Continue reading
Poland is not just a security consumer but a provider. Its actions strengthen not only its security but that of Europe as a whole. [Russia’s Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya] “said that Poland attacked Russia during World War I. What is he talking about?” Poland’s Foreign Mi … | Continue reading
Before the war in Ukraine, defence tech had a relatively low profile in CEE. But recent events have changed everything. The Ukraine war is the first major conflict to feature extensive cyber-attacks. This evolution of warfare to include cyber makes digital technology fundamental. … | Continue reading
The plan, launched in November 2023, aims to accelerate the socio-economic convergence of the region with the EU, extend some of the benefits of EU membership, and ultimately speed up the accession process. It’s been an important week for the Western Balkans. On Monday, the Europ … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter, this week led by the NATO reaction to French President Emmanuel Macron’s suggestion that deploying ground forces in Ukraine “should not be ruled out”. Russia’s war on Ukraine Several NATO countries, in … | Continue reading
Kosovo’s adoption of the euro as a single currency is not a provocation or political decision. It is a symbol of its self-determination and independence. Kosovo’s recent decision to establish a single-currency system for commercial and cash payments has rekindled tensions with Se … | Continue reading
CEOs in CEE increasingly see transformation as vital to the survival of their businesses beyond the next decade. Almost half don’t see their companies surviving the coming decade under their current business model. There are clear signs that optimism about the global economy is r … | Continue reading
GR8 Tech was named the Best Online Sportsbook Provider 2024 at the SiGMA Eurasia Awards ceremony on February 26, highlighting the company’s leadership in the online sportsbook market. The prestigious award reflects GR8 Tech’s effective strategy and successful delivery of superi … | Continue reading
‘Made in Ukraine’ economic initiative aims to bolster domestic production and reduce dependency on international aid. In a major push to reduce the country’s reliance on international aid, Ukraine this week launched a new economic platform that the country’s president, Volodymyr … | Continue reading
In a significant stride towards revolutionising product information management, Gepard PIM, a front-runner in Product Information Management (PIM) solutions, has unveiled its complimentary PIM Process Audit Service. This innovative offering is engineered to redefine the managemen … | Continue reading
Evergrowth’s approach aims to eliminate some of the most common challenges in B2B sales, offering a more targeted and adaptive strategy fit for the digital age. Another win for the vibrant Baltic technology ecosystem—a pre-seed 2.2 million US dollars raise for Evergrowth, an AI-p … | Continue reading
A new report urges emerging Europe and Central Asia to ditch fossil fuels and embrace renewables for energy security and sustainable growth. A new World Bank report released last week lays out pathways for countries in the emerging Europe and Central Asia region to make the shift … | Continue reading
Armenian cinema boasts a rich and complex history, its films spanning themes of historical trauma, cultural identity, and enduring human spirit. However, while often grappling with the nation’s turbulent past, Armenian filmmakers have also pushed the boundaries of storytelling, t … | Continue reading
The stakes of the upcoming US presidential election cannot be overstated for Ukraine. In the meantime, it’s up to all of Kyiv’s allies to match its inspiring resilience. I write this in Bucharest, less than 200 kilometres from Romania’s border with Ukraine. Ever since Russia lau … | Continue reading
The fund is run by the same team who have for the past six years been managing GapMinder Fund I, a 50 million euros fund that has contributed significantly to the development of the tech start-up environment in Romania. A major new investment fund is on the look out for start-ups … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter, this week led by news of a poll that reveals weak levels of confidence in Ukraine’s chances of victory in its war against Russia. Russia’s war on Ukraine Europeans appear pessimistic about the outcome … | Continue reading
Can the traditional diets of Central Europe be made healthier and more sustainable without compromising on taste or increasing costs? What might a healthy, sustainable diet in Central Europe look like? A major new report from the WWF offers a few clues. Dubbed Livewell, the appro … | Continue reading
As Europe strides ahead in the sustainable investment and compliance landscape, its vigorous push towards eco-friendly operations is compelling businesses to adapt and evolve. The Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) and the European Sustainability Reporting Stan … | Continue reading
Belarusians vote for a new parliament on February 25. There will be very little choice on the ballot papers. Sentenced in 2022 to three years in prison for “slandering” the dictator of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko, civil activist Ihar Lednik died in jail on February 19, the fifth … | Continue reading
Estonia, the hitherto digital dynamo of the Baltic, is hoping for an economic rebound in 2024 as it looks to escape Europe’s longest and deepest recession. So often the best-performing country of the entire emerging Europe region, topping just about every metric from public ser … | Continue reading
In Europe, the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT) unites higher education institutions, industry, and research and development centers. It is uniquely positioned to foster the personal connections essential for Ukraine’s women entrepreneurs. For Ukrainians, the … | Continue reading
The final leg on the Snapsounds journey is a collaboration with a software development firm that showcases the powerful synergy of technology, music, and creative industries. The audiovisual project Snapsounds, which documented the Lithuanian alternative music scene from 2009 to … | Continue reading
With many of CEE’s farmers planning new, extensive protests against Ukrainian agriculture imports, it’s time for the region to begin a robust conversation about the future of the sector. Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) has long been an agricultural powerhouse. Before Russia’s in … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter, this week led by news of the ‘extremely complex’ situation on the front line in Ukraine. Russia’s war on Ukraine Ukraine’s new army chief said on Wednesday the situation on the front line was “extremel … | Continue reading
GR8 Tech’s presence at ICE in London, with over 300 meetings held, marked a successful start to the business year, bringing the company several new clients and laying the groundwork for its expansion into the Latin American region. “While the latest ICE in London was not primar … | Continue reading
Boomerang Partners launches the prestigious Golden Boomerang Awards 2024 traffic tournament for affiliates worldwide, including emerging markets in Europe. The competition will be held on a special landing page where participants can demonstrate their expertise in driving high-va … | Continue reading
With the latest US aid package for Ukraine stuck in the House of Representatives, a new report reveals the growing cost of recovery and reconstruction. Russia’s war on Ukraine—which began two years ago next week—has now caused 152 billion US dollars in direct damage to buildings … | Continue reading
The European bison population in Ukraine’s Zalissia National Nature Park is facing the threat of extinction due to Russia’s war. Finding mates for the endangered female herd is now critical to their survival. Humanity has shown remarkable creativity in its pursuit to decode the a … | Continue reading
Lithuania’s capital Vilnius will be the European Green Capital for 2025 as it strives to achieve climate neutrality by 2030. The city’s start-ups are contributing to its environmental protection goals, with many focusing on reducing their carbon footprint. Cities are major pollut … | Continue reading
A presidential resignation and a damning new report on the state of media freedom have left Hungary’s prime minister reeling. It’s not been a good few days for Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán. On February 10, the country’s president, Katalin Novák—a close Orbán ally—was for … | Continue reading
The Polish renewable energy market is on the up, and there’s much more room to grow. No wonder investors are embracing the sun. Poland may still be more reliant on coal than any other country in the European Union (almost 64 per cent of the country’s electricity was generated by … | Continue reading
In a world where health innovation is becoming a key element in improving healthcare, Poland is blazing a trail for a new era with a number of medical start-ups that are developing innovative solutions and influencing the future of eHealth. The Polish Hospital Federation, the AI … | Continue reading
Cyber Upgrade, a Lithuanian cybersecurity start-up helmed by former Paysolut co-founders, is developing interactive, AI-driven cybersecurity solutions for SMEs, with a focus on inclusivity and accessibility. In a breakthrough for accessible AI-driven cybersecurity, Lithuanian sta … | Continue reading
Is great travel writing one of the dying literary arts? Our editor (once a travel writer himself), has a few thoughts on the subject here. What’s certain is that over the past century Central and Eastern Europe and Central Asia have spurred numerous great authors to put pen to pa … | Continue reading
Romania’s President Klaus Iohannis believes that politicians from Central and Eastern Europe are missing out on Europe’s top jobs. How accurate is his assessment? In football it’s known as a ‘come and get me’ plea. A player unhappy at their current club, possibly approaching the … | Continue reading
Catch up quickly with the stories from Central and Eastern Europe that matter, this week led by a long-awaited change at the top in Ukraine’s armed forces. Russia’s war on Ukraine Ukraine’s president this week sacked the commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces, Valerii Z … | Continue reading
Values-based communication will be needed to build a politically viable enlargement narrative that can withstand the test of populism and disinformation. The end goal should be that of maintaining the EU’s appeal. In the wider geopolitical context shaped by Russia’s war of aggres … | Continue reading
Attention will now shift to applying further pressure on Vienna to fully lift its veto on Bulgaria and Romania’s Schengen accession. Any movement, however, is unlikely until after Austria holds parliamentary elections in September. Ali Demirci has been driving trucks across Euro … | Continue reading