The Central and Eastern European (CEE) region enjoys geographic advantages and has cemented manufacturing prowess, especially in automotive, food-and-agro, textiles, aerospace and defense, plastics, and metals sub-sectors. In a period defined by geopolitical tensions, shifting supply chains and trade relations, and reshoring and nearshoring priorities of global conglomerates, the CEE nations will become the investment hotspots for Western European and global investors catering to the wider European consumer base.

The region is forecast to grow at 2.6% in 2024 following a muted real GDP growth of 0.8% in 2023 amidst elevated price pressures and poor export performance. Steady fiscal support for digitalization, infrastructure, and green transition, coupled with receding price pressures, will drive growth recovery this year. Real GDP growth will average 3.0% between 2024 and 2030, with CEE’s nominal GDP forecast to reach $2.9 trillion by the end of this decade.

This macroeconomic thought leadership provides strategic insights on regional megatrends and ranks CEE economies as per their exposure to medium and long-term risks. Decision-makers can also leverage the country-level growth outlook for Poland, Czechia, Romania, and Hungary to outline geographic expansion strategies. Long-term macroeconomic transformations, in terms of the silver economy expansion, infrastructure and digitalization investments, and the region’s potential to become the European manufacturing hotbed have also been outlined, which will help business executives leverage long-term shifts that will drive profitable investments.

Key Themes:
• Regional outlook
• Regional megatrends and country highlights
• Regional risk analysis
• Country-level economic and industry outlook: Poland, Czechia, Romania, Hungary
• Growth opportunities