The article is dedicated to analyzing trends in the development of startup infrastructure in Ukraine, Latvia and Georgia. The article is based on concrete data, a comprehensive analysis of statistical and qualitative data on the development of startups in Ukraine, Latvia and Georgia. This provides a reliable basis for the arguments and conclusions. General patterns of startup infrastructure development in the three countries were identified. A PEST analysis of startup infrastructure development in Ukraine, Latvia and Georgia was conducted. Thus, the authors conduct a multidisciplinary analysis that includes not only economic, but also social and technological aspects of startup ecosystems and infrastructures. Suggestions for improving the startup infrastructure in these countries were developed.

Regional differentiation in the Russian Federation is considered to be high in terms of gross regional product (GRP) per capita level, growth rate, and other indicators. Inefficient use of region-specific spaces entails redistribution processes in order to maximize positive agglomeration effects throughout the country. These encompass economic restructuring based on production value-added chain extension and expanding inter-regional collaborative linkages. Besides, it is vital to assess the opportunities of individual Russian territories for participation therein. The research goal is to develop a scientifically based methodology to determine promising sectoral composition of the regional economies and that of spatial interactions. Such methodology would consider the feasibility of combining “smart” industrial specializations, regional resource potential, prevailing contradictions in the economic, innovative, and technological development of the country’s internal space. The proposed methodological approach opens the way to exploit the existing regional economic potential to the full, firstly, via establishing sectoral priorities of the region regarding the regulatory factors for the territorial capital to have a major effect on the increased potential GRP level; secondly, through benchmarking performance of the available development reserves within leading regions from homogeneous groups having similar characteristics and factor potentials; thirdly, via developing inter-regional integration prospects in terms of regional potential redistribution to ensure growth in potential gross domestic product. An extensive analytical and applied investigation of the proposed methodological approach was carried out from 2014 to 2020. Diversified estimates were obtained for a wide range of indicators due to evidences from 85 Russian regions and 13 types of economic activity. Such an integrated approach allows revealing actual imbalances and barriers that impede regional development, ensures the efficient use of production factors, and enables to trace ways to implement transformation policies and design effective regulatory mechanisms. The results provide arguments in favor of strengthening inter-regional connectivity and supporting inter-regional cooperation. This insight not only contributes to the academic discourse on complex development of a territory but also holds practical implications for policymakers and regional planners aimed at ensuring comprehensiveness and robustness of the evaluation supporting the decision-making process.

The linkages between adequate service delivery and sustainable development have been given a little academic attention in the South Africa’s local municipalities. For this reason, the achievement of sustainable development has been difficult which has culminated in the occurrence of service delivery protests. These service delivery protests have posed critical threats to social security thus affecting the possibility to achieve sustainable development in South Africa. the paper findings showed that the delivery of inadequate services to the citizens is triggered by the failure to equally include citizens in the process. One of the threats that the paper found is the fact that these service delivery protests have become a major issue and any move to solve them without citizen participation has been unsuccessful. The paper findings also showed that that the lack of adequate service delivery to the citizens causes human insecurities which in turn affect the achievement of sustainable development. This is because the occurrence of the service delivery protests deteriorates national economic growth and human growth. They affect foreign investors and international tourists by instilling fear in them and yet they are contributors to sustainable economic growth that leads to sustainable development. The findings of this paper also presented that the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies can increase citizen participation during service delivery. It is through the use of citizen participation that openness, transparency, accountability, and representation principles that promote the delivery of adequate services are possible. The paper found that using AI technologies would also foster trust between the service provider and service receiver needed for delivering adequate services, thus achieve sustainable development in South Africa.

The Moroccan economy has undergone significant structural changes since the 1980s. Attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) has been a key strategy for the country’s economic growth and development, particularly in some specific high value-added sectors, such as the automotive supply industry. This paper uses the results of a survey to examine the reasons why multinational enterprises (MNEs) in the automotive supply sector set up in Morocco. Our findings show that proximity to Europe and labor costs and skills are the most important considerations for investing in this sector in Morocco. However, some institutional issues are still of concern to these MNEs.

The proposed scientific article aims to analyze the application of Lean Six Sigma in the food industry. To this end, a detailed methodology has been designed that ranges from the selection of the works to the synthesis and presentation of the results obtained. The methodology is based on rigorous inclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the selected sources, including books, academic articles, theses, and other relevant documents. Through extensive searches of academic databases and other reliable sources, key works were identified that specifically address the implementation of Lean Six Sigma in the context of food production. Once the relevant papers were collected, a critical analysis was conducted to identify common themes, trends, and key findings. The works were classified according to their main focus, such as process improvement, waste reduction, supply chain optimization and food safety assurance. This categorization allowed the information to be organized in a coherent way and to facilitate the synthesis of the results. The results obtained were presented in a table that included details about each selected work, such as title, author, year of publication, abstract and links to the original source. This structured and rigorous approach provides a clear and comprehensive view of the topic, contributing to the advancement of knowledge in this area and offering practical guidance for practitioners and researchers interested in the application of Lean Six Sigma in the food industry. The literature on Lean Six Sigma in the food industry highlights its importance in improving efficiency, quality, and safety. Key recommendations include gradual implementation, appropriate training, focus on quality, and continuous improvement.

In order to meet the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the United Nations and address the growing global concern for ecologically responsible activities, this study examines the role that French financial institutions play in financing a green future and promoting sustainable development (SD). Through semi-structured interviews with twelve participants from banks and Fintech companies, the research investigates their familiarity with green financing commitments to international organizations and associations, their views on the growth potential of green finance, and the provision of green finance products. Additionally, it explores the connection between green finance and its positive influence on SD. Data analysis was performed using NVivo 12. The findings highlight a strong commitment to green finance and sustainable practices among these institutions, emphasizing the significance of integration and utilization of green finance products across various sectors. This research emphasizes the crucial role of financial institutions in France in driving a greener and more sustainable future through green finance.