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Guided by plans laid out in Qatar National Vision 2030, the country is on track to upgrade and connect its land, air and sea networks in 2019. The first trains are set to run on the new Doha Metro network, while dozens of express¬way bridges, underpasses and intersections are due for completion. Organisation efforts for the 2022 FIFA World Cup have added urgency to the drive to improve transport connections while passenger and freight numbers are expected to grow at the country’s new interna¬tional air and seaports. The increased traffic through these facilities is spurring the development of free zones and logistics centres, which are expected to create opportunities for entrepreneurs and investors. his chapter contains interviews with Abdulla Nasser Turki Al Subaey, President, Civil Aviation Authority; and Abdulla bin Abdulaziz bin Turki Al Subaie, Minister of Municipality and Environment; and CEO and Managing Director, Qatar Rail.

The potential for the industrial sector to play a major role in Qatar’s economic growth was officially recognised in 2008 with the publication of the country’s plan for long-term development, Qatar National Vision 2030. Since then Qatar has taken a number of steps to increase the incentives available to foreign investors interested in supporting the country’s industry. Boosted by a new project to build a large petrochemicals complex, and responding to concerns about food supply and security in the wake of the 2017 blockade, non-hydrocarbons industries look poised to play a more prominent economic role. This chapter contains interviews with Mohamed Badr Al Sadah, CEO, Hassad Food; and Nasser Hassan Al Naimi, Managing Director, Barzan Holdings.

The energy sector has made noteworthy progress in a number of respects in recent years. Despite political turbulence in Sri Lanka, key strategic measures were enacted in 2018 to encourage growth, including increasing renewable energy generation capacity; opening the hydrocarbons sector to greater overseas investment; and forming joint working groups to expedite the construction of liquefied natural gas power plants following a string of agreements with foreign governments. Given Sri Lanka’s expanding fiscal and trade deficits, developing an efficient energy market has been cited as one of the key factors that could facilitate a stable macroeconomic environment. However, while recent developments signal the intent of policymakers to promote energy security, disagreements between technocrats regarding a long-term generation expansion plan have hindered development. Aside from a collection of small renewable energy initiatives, the country has not commissioned a major power plant since 2014. This chapter contains interviews with Damitha Kumarasinghe, Director-General, Public Utilities Commission of Sri Lanka; and Allard Nooy, CEO, InfraCo Asia.

Major changes are on the horizon in the Sri Lankan insurance industry, with much of the groundwork laid for future growth in recent years. A government focus on regulatory improvements, the modernisation of processes, consolidation and further investment in human resources point to continued opportunities for expansion in the sector. While the performance of the life insurance segment has been bumpy, the sector as a whole continues to thrive. Double-digit growth is expected for both general and life insurance in the short term as many lines of business expand in a market known for its low penetration rates. Campaigns to promote insurance and build awareness of the benefits of coverage have been rolled out, contributing to the sector’s improved performance. This chapter contains an interview with R Renganathan, Chairman, Ceylinco Life Insurance.

After a positive second half of 2017 Sri Lanka’s capital markets experienced considerable headwinds in 2018, with a variety of external and internal factors behind the buffeting. The impacts of macroeconomic issues, increasing competition in terms of investment options, political uncertainty, turbulence in global energy prices and moves by the US Federal Reserve could be seen in both equity and bond markets. As 2019 got under way foreign outflows continued, while bond spreads widened – both signs of challenges ahead. This left many key companies undervalued and demand for long-term bonds high, as investors looked for more secure havens in the country’s debt market. As the year progresses, many see prospects for a turnaround, particularly if moves to expand and deepen the market begin to take hold, and the overall economy grows within the government’s structural reform agenda. This chapter contains an interview with Dilshan Wirasekara, CEO, First Capital Holdings.