Economy

Sarawak’s economy thrived in 2011, with record inflows of investment and a revving of the state’s growth engines sparked by projects such as the Bakun Dam and the Sarawak Corridor of Renewable Energy (SCORE).

Key elements of Abu Dhabi’s economic diversification programme, including the development of the emirate’s manufacturing base, are moving ahead as planned, with the government reiterating its commitment to encourage investment and diversification.

L’économie marocaine a continué à afficher de bons résultats au troisième trimestre 2011, avec une croissance légèrement moins soutenue qu’aux trimestres précédents mais dépassant tout de même de loin ses voisins européens au nord. L’inflation s’est également établie à un niveau très bas ces derniers mois.

A $1.66bn stimulus plan announced earlier this autumn is expected to stimulate domestic demand in the Philippines as effects from the ongoing global economic turbulence continue to impact the country’s economy. The programme is designed to make up for government underspending that many claim has led to lower-than-expected growth in the first half of 2011, but ensuring that the money is spent in a timely and efficient manner may be a challenge.

It has been an eventful year for Sabah, characterised by growing streams of investment flowing into the state, enhanced economic cooperation, improved trade relations and several significant offshore oil discoveries, including one announced in November by the national oil corporation, Petronas.

Plans are in place to develop Indonesia’s nuclear power capacity to overcome the country’s shortage of electricity and ease its dependence on hydrocarbons. However, some concerns remain as to the safety of atomic energy in a quake-prone region so soon after the disaster in Japan, with opponents to the scheme pushing alternative energy as the answer to Indonesia’s power needs.