Global trade faces protectionist headwinds that are dampening the outlook for growth in the coming years. According to the World Trade Organisation (WTO), trade volumes grew by 3% in 2018 and are anticipated to decline slightly to 2.6% in 2019 before rebounding to 3% in 2020. This may be the first time since the 2007-08 global financial crisis...
In its bid to drive diversification and economic growth outside the Muscat area, Oman has invested heavily in special economic zones (SEZs). A particular focus is on increasing the level of private sector activity, feeding into the Vision 2040 target of having 90% of GDP come from non-oil sectors and boosting the proportion of Omani employees...
Following the drop in oil prices in 2014, the government budget has fallen into deficit. As a result, the authorities have implemented a bold series of fiscal reforms since 2015 to shift the budget on to a more sustainable trajectory. For instance, 2019 saw the introduction of a series of new excise taxes, referred to as sin taxes, on alcohol...
The three decades before the 2007-08 global financial crisis were marked by the world’s financial networks becoming increasingly interconnected. Financial system regulatory convergence, the growing penetration of World Trade Organisation rules and the creation of currency unions, such as the euro, resulted in a surge in cross-border capital...
Oman’s banking sector has continued to perform well in spite of economic headwinds. The growth of non-oil sectors has increased demand for credit and, as a result, banks’ lending and assets have continued to expand, although liquidity has tightened. Meanwhile, the vibrant Islamic financial services segment has supported the sector’s growth....
Given its natural assets, strategic location and appealing geography, Oman has the resources for significant economic expansion. Although the sultanate remains dependent on oil and gas, efforts to diversify the economy are already bearing fruit. While private sector growth benefitted from the many investments committed in the days of higher...
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