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Industrial exports have long played a crucial role in Sri Lanka’s economic output, even during periods of civil strife and macroeconomic instability. Over the years, an emphasis on export orientation has led to greater productivity and employment generation. However, a new wave of instability – characterised by political uncertainty, currency depreciation and rising interest rates – affected productivity towards the end of 2018, adversely affecting investment confidence and nullifying some of the nation’s competitive advantages. Sri Lanka’s retail sector has evolved into a powerful driver of growth and opportunity. Over the last decade, fast-paced urbanisation has enticed significant investment in commercial real estate. As such, modern outlets are gradually replacing small informal merchants. While traditional vendors still play an important role in the market, modern convenience stores, hypermarkets and malls are poised to occupy an even greater share of retail space. This chapter contains an interview with Prabhash Subasinghe, Managing Director, Global Rubber Industries; and Carl Cruz, Chairman, Unilever Sri Lanka.

With major port, airport, road network and railway projects under way, Abu Dhabi’s transportation sector has become a major focus of investment in recent years. International investors and developers are playing a central role in infrastructure planning, construction and management, which is seen as a strategic priority driving the emirate’s economic growth and diversification initiatives. Home of the country’s capital, Abu Dhabi City, and comprising nearly 90% of its land area, 30% of its population and around 60% of the national GDP, Abu Dhabi remains an important player in the administration and development of both local and national transport systems. This chapter contains an interview with Mohamed Juma Al Shamisi, CEO, Abu Dhabi Ports.

The UAE continues to spend heavily on its military capabilities, while at the same time pushing to expand its domestic defence-related manufacturing industries, as a means both to better protect its own national security and to contribute to diversifying its economy away from oil and gas. Significant agreements point to the long-term success of the goal of developing a domestic industry, even as deals continue to be signed with international arms manufacturers for military equipment for the UAE’s armed forces. In recent years a core focus in Abu Dhabi has been on the commercial development of the emirate’s own security, aerospace, defence industries, with the sector constituting a key pillar of the Abu Dhabi Economic Vision 2030 long-term strategy. This chapter contains an interview with Maktoum Ali Al Sharifi, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Police.

With strong private sector and foreign investor engagement, the utilities sector in Abu Dhabi is one of the most enduringly attractive to a wide range of businesses. Despite the economic slowdown of recent years, vital big-ticket projects in areas including nuclear energy, solar energy and desalination are continuing to progress at pace. The power and water sector is overseen by several bodies, reflecting the UAE’s federal nature and the relevance of these industries to the public interest. As home to the capital and the vast majority of the UAE’s hydrocarbons resources, Abu Dhabi is central to federal decision-making. Power and water are closely related in the UAE, since most desalination units from which potable water is derived are linked to power plants. This chapter contains an interview with Mohamed Jameel Al Ramahi, CEO, Masdar.

Abu Dhabi has one of the world’s largest and most developed hydrocarbons industries, benefitting from its substantial resources and openness to international investment. Building on decades of steady growth and development, the sector is undertaking a shift. The drive to diversify has resulted in higher levels of investment in both non-conventional hydrocarbons and downstream capacity, and increased participation from a widening range of global partners. This chapter contains interviews with Sultan Al Jaber, UAE Minister of State; and Group CEO, Abu Dhabi National Oil Company; and Awaidha Murshed Al Marar, Chairman, Department of Energy.