Featured by OBG
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.
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.
The accession of King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in January 2015 was the start of a new chapter for the Kingdom, and with the fall in global oil prices and continued regional turbulence there are undoubtedly challenges to be met. However, domestic stability, combined with the government’s commitment to major development projects and sustained focus on economic diversification, indicate a positive overall outlook for the country moving forward.
Benefitting from strong ties to both Europe and the Arab world, Morocco has the right ingredients for future growth: low inflation, political stability, an industrial base and a favourable climate. With the outlook improving for Morocco’s trade partners and the lower price of oil – of which the country is a net importer – most observers expect growth to be even stronger in 2015, with estimates ranging from 4.4% to 5.0%.
Following successful completion of the Papua New Guinea liquefied natural gas project, the country is experiencing a surge of optimism about foreign investment and overall economic growth. PNG remains favoured by its traditional investors such as Australia, but it is increasingly a target for new players, including China and Japan.
An upper-middle-income country situated on the Gulf of Guinea, Gabon is one of Africa’s leading oil producers. With a population of around 1.7m and a stable political system, it plays a leading role in the region through its membership in the CEMAC economic bloc.
