Having learned the lessons of the 1997-98 financial crisis, Asia has since enjoyed a period of steady growth driven by consumption, investment and exports. The traditional model of low-cost manufacturing and exports to advanced markets has gradually been replaced with a more consumer-oriented and value-added approach.
Historically fragmented and often overlooked by emerging market investors, South-east Asia has become one of the leading destinations for FDI in recent years. The creation of ASEAN, South-east Asia’s unified economic and trade bloc, has encouraged regional cooperation and better connectivity.
Since its establishment in late May 1981, the GCC has experienced over three decades of rapid economic growth. The bloc’s six members – Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE – have benefitted from greater integration and cooperation over the years, and continue to work to diversify their economies to maintain their competitive edge.
Never far from the headlines, the region faces a number of significant political and economic challenges. Amidst this, however, the economies of the Middle East offer numerous opportunities for investors, across all sectors.
The only monarchy in North Africa, Morocco has one of the more diversified GDP mixes in the region, and the mainstays of the economy include agriculture, tourism, and the textiles industry; higher-end manufacturing, IT and communications, and outsourcing are also all becoming increasingly important. The past few years have seen some significant changes, yet the kingdom has remained stable, even amidst the broader regional turmoil.
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