Enhancing Foreign Investments in Central and Eastern Europe: The Role of the Three Seas Initiative in Attracting Middle Eastern and Asian Investors

Foreign investments are viewed as a key driver when it comes to economic growth and infrastructure development in the countries from Central and Eastern Europe. This paper aims to examine the role of the Three Seas Initiative as a platform for drawing funds from Middle Eastern and Asian investors and stake holders, focusing mainly on domains like transportation, energy and digitalization. It focuses also on highlighting the challenges when it comes to closing investment gaps in cross-border connectivity and attracting international financial engagement. Existing scientific literature underscores the importance of the Three Seas Initiative in addressing disparities in infrastructure across the region. However, there has been limited exploration on its probability of attracting non-european investors in the area. This paper analyzes the alignment between the needs of the regional infrastructure and the strategic priorities of Middle Eastern and Asian investors, such as technological or transportation innovation, energy security or food security. The research method used in the paper is based on a literature analysis or a review of the specialized literature, in which I will examine and synthesize previous research and findings in the field. The study addresses two central research questions: What strategies does the Three Seas Initiative use to attract foreign investments? How can Central and Eastern Europe position itself as an attractive destination for Middle Eastern and Asian investors? It is estimated that, at the moment, the value of The Three Seas Initiative projects is over 100 billion and they can enhance the region’s appeal through improved connectivity and resilience. This article also provides valuable insights into how the infrastructure initiatives from The Three Seas Initiative align with the strategic goals of global investors.