In the context of the global economic crisis consumer and industrial manufacturers in Central & Eastern Europe need to know both their markets and their customers to make it through to the other side, according to the results of a survey conducted by KPMG. Entitled Redefining business models: Colliding, Surviving or Thriving? How Consumer & Industrial Manufacturers in Central & Eastern Europe are navigating the crisis, their success or failure may not be contingent upon the global economic crisis but on what, or whom they place at the top of their priority list.

The report Navigating the storm: Charting a path to recovery?, presents the views of more than 100 senior executives of some of the world’s leading engineering & construction companies across 30 countries.

As the financial services industry moves into recovery, it is still facing many challenges and opportunities resulting from the economic crisis. Clarity on what the true picture will be is important to understanding how the industry will move forward.

There is no doubt that the experience of the last two years will cast a shadow on financial services as it endeavours to return to level flight. The challenges now being faced are familiar to many, and highlight the need to focus on the core strategic business.

Investment in the Baltics is one of a series of booklets published by KPMG to provide information to those considering investing or doing business in various countries.

Opinions are divided over when the recovery will happen. Few, however, would argue that the road to recovery will be a long one. This edition of frontiers in finance looks into programmes that have already been put in place to try to jump start the recovery, as well as some practical advice on how you can manage your company through the remainder of the downturn to emerge stronger at the other side. There is also a great deal of discussion around the need for regulatory reform.