Category: Uncategorized

George Richani-CEO-Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

Up market: Expanding luxury tourism to attract high-end travellers

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  Tunisia is mostly known for its mass-market packaged tourism; however, as the number of European arrivals continues to decline, the coming years will see Tunisia’s luxury hotels undergo a growth spurt as more international chains take over existing hotels and build new properties to attract upmarket travellers. Major Players A variety of international chains catering to a high-end and business clientele are already present, largely in Tunis’ premium neighbourhoods such as Les Berges du Lac, La Marsa and Gammarth. Major hotel chains include Mövenpick, Golden Tulip, Sheraton, Concorde Hotel and Resorts and the Residence. (canadianpharmacy365.net) In May 2015 Hilton group signed an agreement with

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

Export platforms: Local pharmaceutical companies eye new markets

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  More than 30 years after Tunisia became one of the first countries in the region to establish a pharmaceuticals industry, the sector boasts nearly 40 production units for human medicine and six for animal medicine. According to a 2014 report by the World Bank, between 2000 and 2013 the industry grew at an average rate of 15%, significantly above the global average. Enjoying steady expansion at home, Tunisia’s pharmaceuticals industry is increasingly looking to leverage its competitive manufacturing position to tap into new export markets, particularly in francophone African countries. Structure & Players According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), Tunisia’s pharmaceuticals industry generated

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

Access for all: Addressing gaps that still remain, Kenya moves closer to its goal of universal voice and broadband connectivity

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Voice and broadband connectivity has been a top priority for ICT stakeholders in Kenya since the July 2013 launch of the country’s National Broadband Strategy (NBS), a long-term initiative to transform the country into a knowledge-based economy. The NBS, which was formulated by the Communications Authority of Kenya (CA), includes a target of universal broadband access at speeds of 5 Mbps. Since the launch of the strategy, broadband and mobile penetration have increased alongside mobile internet uptake and the launch of new 4G LTE and

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

Grounds for optimism: Despite recent setbacks, coffee looks to remain a major player

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Vietnam has become the world’s second-largest coffee exporter and producer, behind Brazil, with beans grown on around 500,000 predominantly small holdings of 0.8 ha to 1.2 ha each. The country is the largest producer of robusta, a low-cost, high-yield family of coffee plants that is normally used in espresso blends or instant coffee powders. Coffee was first introduced into Vietnam in 1857 by French missionaries; some three decades later the first plantations went under cultivation in the northern plains. By 1950 a processing plant making instant coffee was set up, and by the early 1980s the government saw it as a potential cash crop and started

Turning point: Banking sector

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Commercial banks have traditionally been the main suppliers of funding in Vietnam, since bank deposits remain the most popular form of investment for Vietnamese households. Even though credit growth has cooled as the government prioritises macroeconomic stability, the compound annual growth rate of 14.2% recorded in the 2011-16 period is significant even in a fast-growing economy like Vietnam. In the coming years credit growth may be around 15-17%, and banks’ core earnings are likely to rise at an even faster rate. Beside interest income, Vietnam’s commercial banks also generate non-interest income. This revenue stream is currently quite low, but is expected to surge with the

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

Running on time: Improving public transport networks remains a key priority

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One of the main challenges Egypt faces is the concentration of activity in Cairo, with the capital accounting for more than half of formal sector jobs in the country. Forecasts indicate that use of the city’s transportation trips will almost triple in a decade, going from 12.7m trips per day in 2011 to 33m by 2022. Commuting can be complex, and reliable information about public bus routes and schedules is scarce enough that an Egyptian entrepreneur created a smartphone app to serve as a guide. Though multiple solutions to Cairo’s transportations problems have been proposed, many fall into two general categories: moving some functions out

George Richani-CEO-Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

Lending a hand: Struggling small businesses benefit from reforms

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Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) are a key contributor to the economies of both Sharjah and the UAE as a whole. Approximately 54,000 of the UAE’s 350,000 smaller businesses are based in the emirate, accounting for 86% of the private sector workforce. According to the Ministry of Economy, the segment further accounts for around 60% of federal non-oil GDP, a figure the authorities wish to raise to 70% by 2021. Meanwhile, Sharjah is seeking to position itself as a regional centre for smaller businesses. CHALLENGING TIMES: The segment has been facing challenges in recent times as a result of factors including the drop in international

Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al Sabah-Chairman-Commercial Bank of Kuwait

Higher expectations: Tertiary education in Sharjah is making a name for itself

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With the founding of the University of Sharjah (UoS) and the American University of Sharjah (AUS) in 1997, the emirate took an important step towards the development of its higher education segment. Sharjah is now widely considered to have some of the top universities in the region, enabling the emirate to provide quality education to students from across the UAE and the world, while simultaneously developing a highly skilled technical workforce. The emirate is also looking to leverage this unique position to help develop the broader economy. Reputations Both AUS and UoS feature on the QS World University Ranking, with AUS among the top 500

Sheikh Ahmad Duaij Jaber Al Sabah-Chairman-Commercial Bank of Kuwait

Around the bend: New projects will lead to improved traffic flow and safety

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Traffic congestion is a significant problem in Sharjah, with traffic to and from Dubai during rush hour being a particular issue due to the large number of people that live in Sharjah and commute to the neighbouring emirate. However, a range of road construction projects aimed at boosting capacity and improving traffic flow have recently been completed or are under way. New Roads In August 2016 the Sharjah Roads and Transport Authority (SRTA) inaugurated a new 3-km-long, two-lane ring road, connecting Mohammed Bin Zayed Road, the main link from Sharjah to and through Dubai. The new Dh49m ($13.3m) road is aimed at reducing congestion in

George Richani-CEO-Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait

Landmark projects: Several large mixed-use developments are taking shape

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Sharjah is attempting to step out of the shadow of its larger neighbour, Dubai, with the development of a number of major signature projects that could significantly reshape its construction landscape. Many of these projects are mixed use, with master plans involving residential properties, commercial spaces, large-scale shopping malls and, in some cases, hotels and even an amusement park. Waterfront View Several large-scale, mixed-use developments are under construction, pointing to a new trend for mixed-use property developments in the emirate, though still with a heavy emphasis on residential components. Chief among these projects is the Dh20bn (. (https://otbsd.com/) 4bn) Sharjah Waterfront City, located on Sharjah’s