LATEST ECONOMIC BRIEFINGS
SOUTH AFRICA | 09.05.2008
According to a recent study, South African agriculture's reputation as a competitive producer is threatened by state policies.
QATAR | 09.05.2008
Qatari authorities are considering beefing up lending restrictions for residential and commercial mortgages as a means of taking some of the heat out of the real estate market, while reinforcing codes of conduct and improving consumer protection.
KUWAIT | 09.05.2008
Kuwait, the only Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member state to drop its dollar-peg, has not managed to escape the current inflationary cycle affecting the region.
BAHRAIN | 09.05.2008
While inflation in the kingdom is relatively low, near record levels of money flowing through the Bahraini economy have sparked concerns of a possible inflationary breakout and have prompted moves by the kingdom's central bank to take some of the heat out of the situation.
INDONESIA | 08.05.2008
Facing with falling production and increasing demand for oil, the Indonesian government has announced it is considering quitting the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 2009.
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Oxford Business Group's series of on-line and print publications have become renowned as the leading source of information for Eastern Europe, North and South Africa, The Middle East and Asia.
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LATEST PUBLICATIONS
THE REPORT Bulgaria 2008
Accession to the EU in 2007 has been the major driver of change in Bulgaria of late, and the country is working to come on line with its new EU neighbours on the political and economic front. The country has seen consistent growth in foreign direct investment (FDI) over the past three years, and both the industrial segment and tourism look particularly strong. The banking sector also looks set to continue to enjoy good health, as the injection of EU funds into various programmes will require co-financing from banks. A tough agricultural season in the summer of 2007 led to rising prices and climbing inflation, though the government is confident that domestic measures aimed at boosting the supply side, as well as continued investment, will help cool off the economy in 2008.
THE REPORT Malaysia 2008
The year 2007 celebrated the 50th anniversary of Malaysia's independence, marking tremendous success. While Malaysia's advantageous wealth of natural resources remains a vital contributor to the economy, the country has secured investment as a niche industrial and financial centre, and its companies are expanding overseas in a variety of industries including oil and gas, trading, construction and real estate. Malaysia still cultivates a significant portion of the world's cocoa and rubber, but palm oil has become one of its most significant success stories, with the country producing half of the world's supply.
The Report: Oman 2008
Oman is beginning to see returns from its economic diversification policies under the Vision 2020 plan. In particular the construction and service industries are performing well, and foreign direct investment (FDI) is being courted, successfully, as never before. Economic growth, buoyed by rising crude oil prices, was strong in 2007. Banking enjoyed particular success while tourism looks set to boom. To meet this coming demand, the government is investing heavily in infrastructure projects. As the country continues to increase its international profile, managing its relations with the US and Iran will be one of the challenges for next year.
