Kuwait in brief:

Various developments point to healthy economic performance in the near term for Kuwait. Chief among them are the upgrade of the country’s stock exchange, which has been approved for inclusion in the MSCI Emerging Markets Index; the rollout of projects such as the Silk City development; major upgrades to the oil and gas downstream segment; and enhanced transport and logistics links that are set to boost added value across a variety of sectors. Furthermore, the New Kuwait 2035 vision – the country’s development plan to shift to a private sector-led, knowledge-based economy – should ensure a buffer against the types of fiscal challenges associated with a volatile hydrocarbons industry.