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.
With the National Bureau of Statistics(NBS) recording a real GDP growth rate, on an aggregatebasis, of 7.13% in the first quarter of 2011, and a slightly lower 6.17% for the same quarter in 2012, Nigeria boasts the continent’s second-largest economy after South Africa. Africa’s largest oil producer, Nigeria is the third-largest recipient of foreign direct investment in the continent after Angola and Egypt, according to the US Diplomatic Mission.
Since 1953, when oil was first discovered near Port-Gentil, Gabon’s economy has been dominated by the petroleum industry. According to the BP “Statistical Review of World Energy 2012”, Gabon is the sixth-largest crude oil producer in sub-Saharan Africa and has the region’s fourth-largest proven reserves.
The Arab world’s second largest-economy, with the GDP of $229bn in 2011 according to the World Bank, has faced exceptional economic circumstances since the start of its political transformation 18 months ago. Despite a slowdown from the roughly 7% annual growth rate posted for the seven years prior to, Egypt showed a relatively robust 4.7% GDP expansion for the 2008/09 financial year.
Located on Africa’s western coast, Ghana is home to 24m people and a variety of ethnic groups. The country is divided into 10 administrative regions and has a strong executive branch, a unicameral legislature made up of 230 members, and an independent judiciary.
Located in the heart of South-east Asia, Thailand combines an ancient Buddhist culture with an emerging industrial economy. It is the only South-east Asian country never to have been colonised, and the monarchy dates back to the 14th century.
