Economy

Foreign firms have objected to trade union proposals to raise the minimum wage, fearing this will cost the Philippines its competitive edge in what is an increasingly tough global investment climate. However, unions say the changes are crucial as workers need to shoulder increasing utility costs.

El gobierno de Panamá continúa invirtiendo fondos públicos en el marco de la revisión de la infraestructura nacional que se viene desarrollando, la cual incluye mega-proyectos tales como la expansión del Canal de Panamá equivalente a US $ 5.25 mil millones, el Metro de Ciudad de Panamá que asciende a los US$ 1.88 mil millones, el mejoramiento de las carreteras, los aeropuertos y los puertos nacionales.

While Kuwait’s FDI figures were up in 2012, far more capital still leaves the country each year than enters it. However, the government is working to reverse this, in part by improving the legal framework for foreign investment.

While the Philippines is one of the fastest-growing economies in South-east Asia, the country lags when it comes to foreign investment, particularly when compared to its regional neighbours.

The latest international bond sale from Nigeria, which was heavily oversubscribed, underscored the bullishness of overseas investors in the country’s sustained if uneven growth. However, the yield level on the offering also highlights the looming challenges that Nigeria, along with other emerging markets, could face when seeking to raise capital in the future as the US economy begins to pick up.

An increase in oil and gas production is expected to boost Brunei Darussalam’s economy over the next few years, but international experts disagree on the magnitude and timing of this growth.