Industry

The structural conditions for Mongolian manufacturing remain challenging for 2013, despite potential in a few niche segments such as food processing for local markets and cashmere products for exports.

Throughout their modern histories, GCC countries have searched for ways to extract extra value from their massive oil and gas reserves. In the 1970s, aluminium offered these opportunities. The metal, prized for its lightness, flexibility and strength, has made its way into the production of everything from construction components to soda cans....

For an economy in the process of diversification, the expected further growth of Oman’s industrial sector is a welcome sign. Although a significant share of the sultanate’s GDP is currently derived from the petroleum industry, Oman’s oil and gas supplies are expected to be depleted before those of most oil producers within the region. As a...

In order to ensure more balanced economic growth throughout the sultanate, a number of industrial estates have been developed. The management of these properties falls under the responsibility of the Public Establishment for Industrial Estates (PEIE), a government body set up in the early 1990s.

The mining industry in the sultanate is changing in a number of positive ways. Most notably, output has increased substantially for laterite and several minerals, including gypsum. According to data released by the Ministry of Culture and Industry (MoCI) in 2012, laterite production climbed by over 92%, from around 375,000 tonnes in 2010 to over...

A number of factors are shaping Oman’s developing retail market. While competition has increased as more companies have set up retail outlets in the sultanate, salaries have also grown, boosting consumer spending as a consequence. Other, less obvious factors are influencing the market including increased infrastructure spending, more...