Industry Sector Research Highlights
Focus Report: How Special Economic Zones are shaping Africa's industrial landscape
As Africa embraces the transformative power of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), Special Economic Zones (SEZs) emerge as pivotal catalysts for regional economic growth...
The Report: Abu Dhabi 2023
Industry & Retail Sector Analysis
The Covid-19 pandemic exposed global supply chain inefficiencies, affecting manufacturing and retail alike. Abu Dhabi, as well as the broader UAE, is applying lessons from this era and focusing...
The Report: Misrata 2024
Trade, Industry & Automotive Sector Analysis
Trade has played a significant role in Libya’s economy since the early 2000s, although it faced significant challenges due to economic and trade sanctions imposed by Western governments prior to the...
The Report: Saudi Arabia 2023
Industry Analysis
Saudi Arabia’s industrial and mining sectors have long been singled out by the authorities as targets for expansion to support economic diversification. The Kingdom aims to attract international...
Driving Saudi Arabia's economic transformation: Unleashing growth and innovation across strategic sectors
Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 blueprint for socio-economic transformation is capturing international attention. Beyond high-profile projects and events, strategic cohesion and societal support are facilitating...
Industry Sector Analyses
OverviewHow Abu Dhabi is strengthening its industrial value chains
The disruption of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020-21 highlighted a range of inefficiencies in global supply chains, which had pronounced impacts on manufacturing and retail companies – and, ultimately, consumers. Both manufacturing and the industrial sector have also had to contend with high global inflation, which began during the pandemic but has been exacerbated by geopolitical tensions, and its detrimental effect on consumer confidence. In the UAE as a whole, and in the emirate of Abu Dhabi specifically...
Interview
Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology
On supporting non-oil economic growth
Analysis
What is behind the increase in e-commerce activity in Abu Dhabi?
Abu Dhabi is creating an environment that supports the growth of the e-commerce segment, backed by evolving regulations, strategic infrastructure initiatives, and support for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)...
Overview
How manufacturing became a driver of economic growth in Misrata
Libyan manufacturing historically focused on processing domestic crops, livestock products and handicrafts. Benghazi and Tripoli were the country’s primary centres of industry, with Italians owning a significant share of many enterprises. After the 1969 revolution the government reconfigured its industrial policy to gain control over sensitive and large-scale production and reduce foreign influence. They required local trading companies to be Libyan-owned and nationalised those owned by Italians. The government then shifted its...
Analysis
What are the key subsector’s in Misrata’s manufacturing industry?
Historically, Misrata’s manufacturing industry was oriented around traditional activities such as handicrafts, weaving and agriculture. As a result, the local economy was primarily centred around subsistence activities like farming and fishing. However, in response to technological advancements and the growing influence of globalisation, the region’s manufacturing sector has diversified into various fields over the decades, including textiles, chemicals, plastics, construction materials, electronics and consumer goods...
Focus Report: How are Libya's free zones incorporating ESG norms into their business practices?
Given the supply chain disruptions since the Covid-19 pandemic, investment in ports and free zones has become more crucial to the global economy and the resilience of trade...
Industry in Africa
Economic Research Highlights
Business intelligence and insights on trends, developments, and opportunities in Africa's industry sector.
Industry in Emerging Markets
Economic ViewJack Uppal, President and Managing Director – Africa and Middle East, General Motors (GM)
On learning from supply chain challenges and the development of other segments
Economic News
Gulf countries look to space to harness scientific and commercial opportunities
In the push to embrace emerging technologies and harness their potential commercial opportunities, Gulf countries are launching new initiatives to bolster their domestic space industries. In June Saudi Arabia’s Council of Ministers approved the transformation of the Saudi Space Commission, which was launched in 2018, into a full government agency known as the Saudi Space Agency (SSA), underscoring the Kingdom’s commitment to the space sector and exploration activities. The move followed the successful launch...
Economic News
Can MENA capture a share of the green steel market?
As the global industrial sector seeks to shrink its carbon footprint, a number of MENA countries are investing in green steel production to capture market share and help meet emissions targets. Despite generating 20% of global greenhouse gas emissions, industry has been slow in adopting carbon-efficient manufacturing technologies. Steel is the manufacturing segment with the largest emissions, accounting for 7% of global emissions annually due in part to a reliance on coal to heat smelting furnaces...
Economic News
What shifting supply chains for semiconductors mean for emerging markets
After the US levied sweeping restrictions against China’s semiconductor manufacturing industry last autumn, opportunities are emerging for other countries to bolster their positions in the supply chain for this critical component of the global economy and linchpin of future technologies like artificial intelligence (AI) and next-generation computing. In October the US Department of Commerce blocked the sale of semiconductors and chip-making equipment to China in a bid to slow its domestic industry...
Economic News
Will more sustainable plastics revolutionise waste management in emerging markets?
As an increasing number of countries ban single-use plastics, waste remains a significant environmental issue – although a variety of initiatives promise to make emerging markets the focus of the global struggle against plastic waste. The Covid-19 pandemic saw a decline in plastic usage; however, it led to an increase in littering from personal protective equipment (PPE) and single-use plastics. Additionally, much of this waste is disposed of unsustainably, ending up either incinerated or stored in landfill, the third-largest source...
Economic News
The role of industrial zones in SME growth in emerging markets
As governments across Africa look to bolster the economic potential of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), industrial parks and special economic zones (SEZs) are emerging as key enablers of their development. SMEs are the backbone of the global economy, particularly in emerging markets, where they make up 90% of all businesses and create 50% of all jobs. The impact is higher in Africa, where SMEs employ around 80% of the continent’s workforce. But while SMEs are a major economic driver, there is also significant room for further growth. In Egypt, for example, SMEs employ 75% of the workforce, but contribute less than 20% of the country’s exports....
Global Platform
Industrialisation is key to Africa's integration and future economic growth
In this Global Platform video Kojo Aduhene, CEO of LMI Holdings, emphasises the importance of industrialisation for the African continent, as well as the key role the private sector can play in securing the necessary infrastructure. Regional integration, sustainability and job creation will be key to future growth...
Economic News
Mining and electric vehicles: what can be done to reduce the carbon footprint?
Indonesia has taken another step towards its quest to become a leading electric vehicle (EV) player, with the world’s two largest producers of EV batteries recently announcing major projects in the country. However, these developments have highlighted the carbon-intensive nature of mining to EV production, despite hopes that the process could be further decarbonised. Headed by LG Energy Solution – the second-largest EV battery maker in the world – a South Korean consortium is set to invest $9bn in a mines-to-manufacturing...
How district cooling can contribute to energy and cost efficiency in the GCC and beyond
Suliman Al Khliwi, Managing Director, Saudi Tabreed
In this Global Platform video, Suliman Al Khliwi, Managing Director, Saudi Tabreed, discusses how district cooling can offer numerous advantages over conventional cooling in the GCC...
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