Economy

After dropping 83% between 2007 and 2009, foreign direct investment (FDI) into Malaysia staged an impressive comeback. By 2010 the 2007 mark was broken. The next year, FDI was up another 12.2%. What transpired has no single explanation. In part, the remarkable rebound was just a recognition that the pullback was an overreaction – to a great extent...

While the Association of South-east Asian Nations (ASEAN) remains the cornerstone of foreign policy, Malaysia has long been engaged in other bilateral and multilateral alliances, pacts, agreements and treaties. These now place it in a truly global web of security, economic and cultural connections.

Among the important benefits that have made Algeria keen to attract foreign direct investment (FDI) is access to foreign technology and know-how to boost local industry. However, current FDI levels remain low, stymied in part by perceptions that it is difficult to do business in Algeria. There have been calls for changes to measures introduced...

exchange expanded to almost $5bn in 2011 and stands to increase further, as Algeria concluded a free trade agreement (FTA) with Brazil in February 2012.

RAPID RISE: As elsewhere in Africa, however, it has been China that has risen through the ranks the fastest. The Asian giant has played a key role in...

Oil and gas production continues to dominate the Algerian economy, accounting for almost all of exports, close to half of government revenue and over a third of GDP. In recent years non-hydrocarbons GDP has outstripped wider economic growth, though this is largely driven by public spending rather than private sector activity.

Ties between Algeria and the EU are of key importance to both the North African republic and Europe. The EU is Algeria’s most important trading partner by a wide margin, and Algeria represents a crucial supplier of energy, in particular of natural gas, to the bloc. Highlighting the importance of these links, in November 2012, EU High Representative...