Category: Uncategorized

Nhon Luc Ly-CEO-AIA Myanmar; Son Nguyen-Country President-Chubb Life Insurance Myanmar; Daw Zarchi Tin-CEO

Incentives for growth: Development of three special economic zones continues

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Offering a range of attractive investor incentives, Myanmar’s special economic zones (SEZs) hold significant potential to attract new foreign direct investment (FDI), support industrialisation and manufacturing activities, and boost employment and export receipts. The country’s sole operational facility, the Thilawa SEZ, has already become a magnet for FDI inflows, with its second phase of development attracting significant investor interest. Two larger-scale developments, Dawei SEZ and Kyaukphyu SEZ, are under development, but have faced delays on account of environmental, financing and land acquisition challenges. Legal Foundation SEZs in Myanmar have their legal foundation in the Special Economic Zone Law of 2014, which came into effect in

Chaim Zach-Managing Director and CEO-Agric International Technology and Trade; Kabiru Rabiu-Group Executive Director-BUA Group; and Aliyu Abbati Abdulhameed-Managing Director

Tackling threats: The government is well equipped to counter the rising number of threats to cybersecurity

Posted OBG AdminPosted in Uncategorized

  With government e-transformation, the growth of cloud services and data centres, e-commerce and almost universal smartphone use, Oman is seizing many of the opportunities provided by the latest developments in ICT. However, there are also new risks, particularly breaches in cybersecurity. Preventing these risks, while ensuring seamless and high-speed connectivity and growth is a major challenge and, thankfully, one that the sultanate is very well prepared for. In the latest UN Global Cybersecurity Index, Oman was ranked as the most prepared nation in the

Nhon Luc Ly-CEO-AIA Myanmar; Son Nguyen-Country President-Chubb Life Insurance Myanmar; Daw Zarchi Tin-CEO

The final hurdle: Officials are pursuing 99% mobile signal coverage by 2022, which will be funded by the first Universal Service Fund

Posted OBG AdminPosted in Uncategorized

Since the liberalisation of the telecommunications industry, the Myanmar government has made a point of tailoring its digital strategy to achieve its goals on economic inclusion. With this in mind, the Telecommunications Law of 2013 gave the Ministry of Transport and Communications (MoTC) the ability to establish a Universal Service Fund (USF) with the ultimate goal of ensuring universal mobile coverage. In early 2018 the government of Myanmar revealed plans to impose a 2% tax on the income of mobile operators through the establishment of

Peter Wong-Deputy Chairman and Chief Executive-HSBC

Developmental catalyst: The short-term successes of Tanfeedh suggest a lasting legacy for the sultanate’s diversification drive

Posted OBG AdminPosted in Uncategorized

A Malaysian influence has been detectable in the GCC economic arena for many years, particularly in the Islamic finance industry, which has benefitted from the models trialled first by the Malaysian financial regulator. Kuala Lumpur has emerged as a generator of sharia-compliant standards to complement the GCC’s own Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions, based in Bahrain. In a wider sense, Malaysia’s status as an emerging economy with diversified sources of revenue serves as a useful example to the Gulf states seeking to

Éric N’guessan-Managing Partner-EY Côte d’Ivoire

Secure sales: Despite credit rating downgrades, the vibrant debt market continues to attract investment

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One of the positive outcomes of the decline in oil prices over 2015 and 2016 has been a surge in activity in the GCC’s debt market. With oil revenues shrinking, governments around the Arabian Gulf have sought alternative sources of funding for their spending programmes, and the issuance of sovereign bonds has proved a useful solution for many of them. (www.creativesystems.com) Sovereign offerings accounted for more than half of all GCC bond sales in 2017, compared to just 12% in 2016, helping to produce a

Pham Hong Hai-CEO-HSBC Vietnam

Higher focus: Financial incentives for students and collaboration with foreign universities will boost regional innovation

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GCC countries have long appreciated the importance of education for their sustained development. However, the sector, and higher education in particular, has risen as a priority over the past decade with the launch of ambitious economic diversification plans across the region. These strategies seek to harness the potential of the GCC’s expanding population – which is projected to see its under-25 age demographic constitute one-third of 65m residents by 2030 – to drive an economic transition towards innovation, technology and knowledge, which could in turn

Éric N’guessan-Managing Partner-EY Côte d’Ivoire

Incubating growth: As funds are being directed to technoparks, incubators have witnessed growth and the flourishing of their ideas

Posted OBG AdminPosted in Uncategorized

  As ambitions to transition to some extent from an oil-driven economy to a tech-driven one, there is an effort to grow a culture of innovation. In January 2017 the Parliament adopted the orientation law for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), aimed at supporting the financing of start-ups and the development of an entrepreneurial culture. In addition to public initiatives, private companies, including telecoms operators, are working towards the establishment of an enabling ecosystem for start-ups. The expansion of incubators and an

Stuart Tait-Regional Head of Commercial Banking-Asia Pacific

Funds and gains: Private equity investments have a role to play in deepening and diversifying the economy, but some obstacles remain

Posted OBG AdminPosted in Uncategorized

Investment funds are smart financing tools that encourage private investment by providing shortand medium-term capital resources to companies. Private equity financing supports companies looking to finance their foundation, growth and in some cases recovery and maintenance. Furthermore, in an economic context in which financing needs are steadily increasing, they represent a real operational solution to enhancing the national economy, which is still largely dependent on hydrocarbons. Strategic Support This type of investment constitutes a majority or minority stake in the capital of a small or

Pham Hong Hai-CEO-HSBC Vietnam

Best medicine: Import replacement policy and strong fundamentals support pharmaceutical expansion

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Pharmaceuticals is one of Algeria’s most dynamic manufacturing industries. The state-owned SAIDAL group is the main producer, and there were approximately 80 other local and foreign manufacturers operating in the segment in 2018. Following the 2009 imposition of restrictions on the import of goods that can be produced locally, national output has grown rapidly, leading to rising levels of self-sufficiency. The market is currently the largest in Africa with an estimated value of $3.7bn. Factors such as an expanding middle class and growing population, which is covered by the public health system, has increased demand for pharmaceuticals and presents long-term investment opportunities. Investment According to

Daniel Asare-Kyei-CEO-Esoko; Curtis Vanderpuije-CEO-ExpressPay; and Daniel Marfo-General Manager-Zipline Ghana

Locally generated: Off-line grids and smaller systems targeted to boost reliability

Posted OBG AdminPosted in Uncategorized

Although Nigeria’s 2013 move to privatise the majority of its power sector assets has by many standards failed to create the level of returns hoped for, market participants still see the country’s electrification as an investment opportunity. However, there has been a shift in focus from the national system to smaller, local projects. The 2017 Power Sector Recovery Programme (PSRP) is unique in comparison to past master plans, as it moves beyond issues related to the nationwide supply chain and includes policy prescriptions for off-grid production, expanding the role of the Rural Electrification Authority (REA). Renewables-based mini-grids, in-home solar kits and a plan to give