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...
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...
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...
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...
In 2019 Oman introduced legal reforms that have the potential to provide a considerable boost to the economy and development of the country. However, the final impact of the reforms will be decided by the executive regulations, the detailed rules around implementation and the day-to-day operation of the laws. The reforms aim to improve the...
Spanning more than 300,000 sq km, the Republic of the Philippines reaches from Taiwan in the north to Indonesia in the south. In terms of territorial size, it is the fourth-largest country in South-east Asia after Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand. Bordered by the South China Sea in the west and the Sulu and Celebes seas in the south, the Philippines is home to some 175 ethnolinguistic groups...
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