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Saudi Arabia is entering a new phase of Vision 2030, the Kingdom’s long-term development roadmap, with greater emphasis on consolidating and maximising the impact of economic reforms introduced over the past decade. Since the launch of Vision 2030 in 2016, the Kingdom has pursued an ambitious agenda aimed at diversifying and moving away from hydrocarbons and expanding private sector activity. Saudi Arabia is increasingly well positioned to sustain the growth of recent years and drive foreign capital inflows and privatisation, positioning it as a globally competitive investment destination while reinforcing international confidence in the Kingdom’s policy direction.
Despite considerable geopolitical volatility, Thailand’s economy remains well diversified, stable and poised for expansion in 2017.
After facing headwinds such as depressed international energy prices, and rising debt and fiscal imbalances, Trinidad and Tobago’s economic recession appears to be turning a corner, with GDP growth projected to climb to 0.3% in 2017 and 3.4% in 2018. As one of the largest and most diversified economies in the English-speaking Caribbean, the country is beginning to benefit from the new administration’s process of fiscal adjustment and economic diversification, spurred on by an ambitious public works pipeline.
Over the last two decades Peru has been one of the fastest-growing economies in the region. Remarkably resilient to global headwinds, positive GDP growth has continued despite the end of the commodities boom. Yet the growth rate has slowed and the initial impetus of a first wave of structural reforms has faded. The question now is whether the current administration can address problems, implement further reforms and re-accelerate the economy.
While reduced oil prices are undoubtedly a concern for the emirate’s authorities, economic diversification efforts of recent years mean Abu Dhabi is well placed to weather a prolonged period of subdued prices. Vision 2030 meanwhile contains a raft of goals that will further reduce the emirate’s reliance on hydrocarbons, and continue to foster the emergence of a more sustainable and knowledge-based economy in the years ahead.
Positioned between west and east Asia, Sri Lanka sits on a major maritime route between Europe and the Far East and its natural resources have made it a trading centre for millennia.
