TAG: Tourism
Bahrain has continued to offset the effects of the drop in oil prices with a host of measures, including moves towards subsidy reduction. A series of big-ticket projects are under way in a number of sectors and the government is pushing ahead with its all-important diversification initiatives, with a $32bn investment strategy fuelling activity across a variety of areas of the economy. Ongoing investment in the energy sector is expected to help boost the economy in coming years, particularly in terms of enhancing refining and providing a reliable supply of fuel for heavy industry.
While Egypt continues to face considerable economic challenges, the outlook is improving on the back of strong private sector activity and government reforms. New revenue enhancements have been put into place, while current spending is being curtailed and a long-awaited legal framework aimed at attracting new investment will soon be rolled out. Financial services, telecoms and industrial firms have benefitted from steady domestic demand, although there are plenty of obstacles to faster growth, including a troubled currency – the flotation of which, while seen as necessary, threatens to drive up inflation.
The past few years have come to be defined by major economic restructuring, encompassing government institutions, investment funds, oil and gas, financial services and education. Leadership across the emirate continues to embrace these changes, creating more efficient institutions better equipped to handle challenging times. Continuing to build competencies outside oil and gas, and furthering the knowledge economy, will be crucial to achieving the emirate’s long-term goals.