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About the projectBEAS

The Business Environment Assessment Study (BEAS) is a comprehensive research project that evaluates the investment potential and business conditions in key cities across the Central and Eastern Europe. Originally focused on Poland, the study has now been expanded to include Prague and Budapest, offering a broader regional perspective.

BEAS analyses seven factors that determine the nature of each market: infrastructure, office space, public administration support, educational potential, employment potential, business potential and the assessment of a location as a place to live. The report was supplemented with market data relevant to investors: the cost of living in each city, prices of apartments per square metre on the secondary and primary markets, office rental rates or salaries offered by employers.

The Polish phase of the study gathered insights from 1,290 respondents — decision-makers such as presidents, board members, and department heads of companies that made new investments in Poland over the last two years. The expanded 2025 edition also incorporates a survey of 107 business decision-makers from companies operating in Prague, the capital of the Czech Republic, as well as responses from 200 representatives of Hungarian companies based in Budapest. This broader scope offers a comparative insight into the business climate across some of the most dynamic cities in the CEE region.

Economic indicators and employment conditions in CEE

  • 13.5M

    Average population (YE '23)

  • 4,56%

    Average unemployment rate (2024)

  • €15.9/hr

    Average labour cost (2024)

  • 15,1%

    Share of non-wage costs (2024)

  • €18,750

    Average individual consumption (€/PPS, 2022)

  • 53.4%

    Growth in individual consumption (2012–2022)

  • $2.61 trillion

    Combined GDP

Investments in CEE in numbers

  • €37.3bn

    Total CEE M&A market disclosed deal value

  • 1,097

    Total CEE M&A market deal volume

  • 12.3 billion USD

    Average annual FDI inflows (2018–2022)

  • €341M

    Venture capital invested in 2023

  • €1.71 billion

    Private equity investment in CEE in 2023

  • 27%

    Czech Republic’s share of CEE total investment value

  • 26%

    Poland’s share of CEE investment value

  • 6%

    Hungary’s share of CEE investment value

BEAS reports produced by Antal, Enloyd and Cushman & Wakefield teams

City Investment Potential reports are an invaluable tool for investors, providing them with essential information and data on which to base their decisions. By analysing these reports, investors can gain insight into the state of the local economy, dynamically developing sectors and market trends, which is crucial when choosing the optimal location for their investment. The reports are also a source of knowledge about the risks associated with investing in a particular region, taking into account economic and social aspects. The reports also offer strategic analysis and investment planning, helping investors to understand demographic changes, legal regulations, potential administrative support and other key factors that can influence investment success.

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