Featured by OBG
While known primarily for its vast gas reserves prior to 2010, Qatar’s global profile received a major boost that year when it was chosen to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup, leading to a significant increase in infrastructure development throughout the country. Qatar is now leveraging its natural resources to become a knowledge-based, diversified economy, and it is looking to attract greater foreign direct investment to further develop its non-oil growth engines, such as tourism, sports, financial services, technology, real estate and logistics.
Nestled between Iraq and Saudi Arabia in the northwest corner of the Gulf, Kuwait has been a leader of Arab democracy and one of the most liberal nations within the GCC since the country gained independence in 1961. Economically, the country also has a bright future, with strong public finances, a young and well-educated population and vast oil deposits.
The mineral wealth of Mongolia, a vast and isolated land, has brought the world to its doorstep. The country’s economy is one of the fastest growing in the world, and production from and investment in its two largest mines should see GDP growth continue to climb.
An archipelago of over 17,500 islands, Indonesia is today the world’s fourth-largest country by population, at 245m. The astonishing diversity of ethnicities and cultures comes together in a democratic framework under the pancasila, or “five principles”: nationalism, humanitarianism, representative democracy, social welfare and monotheism
Jordan’s stable political environment, as well as the robust growth projections for its economy, should ensure near term investment inflows continue to fuel growth across the board; however, regional instability has been having a negative impact on the country’s tourism sector and rising refugee numbers are putting increased pressure on state services.