The second-largest economy in Africa after Nigeria, South Africa benefits from some of the most sophisticated financial markets in the world, paired with a robust regulatory system, and is also home to the headquarters of a number of major multinational players in the fields of industry, energy and financial services.

Situated on the Gulf of Guinea in West Africa, Ghana’s natural resource wealth and status as a stable democracy have helped make it a prominent player in the region. It is the world’s second-largest exporter of cocoa, behind Côte d’Ivoire, and one of the continent’s largest gold producers. Recently discovered reserves of oil and gas have powered the economy to double-digit growth in the past decade.

With more limited hydrocarbons reserves compared to its UAE neighbours to the south, RAK has developed into an industrial hub thanks to its dynamic network of industrial free trade zones. Considerable natural resources feed the country’s thriving cement and ceramics industries while elsewhere the emirate is looking to leverage its varied landscapes in a bid to boost tourism revenues in line with general economic diversification targets.

At a time when a number of major Latin American economies, including Brazil and Venezuela, are heading toward recession, Mexico’s economy stands out in the region for its resilience. The country is expected to maintain a solid economic performance in 2015 and beyond, with the IMF estimating GDP growth of 3% and 3.3% in 2015 and 2016, respectively.

While hyrdrocarbons revenues still form the bulk of government income in Kuwait, the country is pushing ahead with its economic diversification goals. Despite the recent fall in oil prices, the government remains committed to an ambitious project pipeline, with a series of mega-projects set to boost economic activity across a range of sectors.