Featured by OBG
Kuwait is advancing a broad reform agenda under the New Kuwait 2035 development plan, aiming to strengthen economic resilience and diversify beyond hydrocarbons. Recent governance and fiscal reforms, including the passage of a new public debt law, are expected to expand financing options and support capital market development. At the same time, investment in infrastructure, logistics, digital technology and industry is creating new opportunities for private sector participation. While the energy sector continues to anchor the economy, expanding activity in finance, ICT and trade is helping to broaden growth drivers. Parallel investment in education, health care and cultural infrastructure is also strengthening human capital and quality of life, positioning Kuwait for more diversified and sustainable long-term growth.
Outperforming the majority of its regional peers, Colombia has experienced steady economic growth in the past decade registering GDP growth averaging over 4%, a rate set to continue in 2013.
The past several years have seen significant changes in Jordan. The state is pushing ahead with structural reforms that should provide a sound base for future development, as the economy shows signs of a brisk recovery from the difficult years it has faced in the wake of the global financial crisis.
Bahrain has remained largely insulated from international external risks and has weathered the global economic shocks of the recent past relatively well. At the height of the international financial downturn, for example, the kingdom avoided falling into recession and even achieved real GDP growth of more than 6% in 2008 and over 3% in 2009.
At an average of 5.1% between 2003 and 2012, Turkey has experienced one of the world’s highest growth rates over the past decade. This was accompanied by drops in joblessness and poverty, as well as gains in school enrolment, home ownership and life expectancy.
As ASEAN chair in 2013, Brunei Darussalam has a regional agenda to push forward alongside its domestic plans for the year. Chief among its local priorities is developing alternative resources streams in its economy, which has long been driven by its oil and natural gas revenues.
