Economy

Clocking the world’s highest growth rate in 2011, Qatar is maintaining expansion despite a difficult international economic climate clouded by the eurozone crisis and doubts over the sustainability of US debt. Indeed, the country saw GDP growth of 14% in inflation-adjusted terms last year, with energy exports its leading economic driver.

The economy is expected to post modest but steady growth in 2012, though to what degree GDP will expand is partly dependent on three key issues: the country’s credit rating, how quickly the government can begin rolling out its high-profile infrastructure programme and how South Africa’s major export markets fare over the next 12 months.

Increased foreign mergers and acquisitions (M&A) activity and regulatory changes that encourage consolidation are expected to dramatically alter the commercial playing field in Turkey over the next several years.

Efforts to boost the role of the private sector in Brunei Darussalam are set to be stepped up with the government’s new budget, rolled out on April 1, that includes tax reductions and incentives aimed at supporting business development.

El espectacular crecimiento económico en Colombia en los últimos años evidencia los esfuerzos de los líderes políticos por restaurar la paz y estabilidad en un país que una vez fue sinónimo de violentos conflictos. De hecho, el futuro luce más brillante que nunca, con un nuevo Tratado de Libre Comercio (TLC) ratificado con los Estados Unidos en octubre de 2011, y con un crecimiento dinámico en diversos sectores económicos.

The Jordanian government is attempting a difficult balancing act, working to boost economic growth while imposing a series of austerity measures intended to curb public spending and debt levels. These measures may prove unpopular with many in the electorate but should serve to strengthen the economy in the longer term.