Industry

The launch of a major seafood processing plant highlights the progress the Sultanate is making in its plans to diversify from oil and resources and position itself as a centre of value-added industry. However, a shortage of available land to further develop the industry sector has been identified as a limiting factor.

A major policy rethink for Nigeria’s cement sector is set to steer the industry in a new direction aimed at building up an export market and improving competitiveness.

Asian countries are spearheading a wave of mounting international investor interest in Myanmar’s long-underdeveloped manufacturing industry, as global players move to tap the potential of the region’s rising economic star.

Having commenced 2013 with a number of new and noteworthy industrial projects in both private and public sectors, Bahrain should be able to continue to diversify its portfolio and expand its industrial base.

Officials are looking at a 2014 start date for a major new mining venture, with plans moving forward for the Kingdom to cooperate with Sudan to exploit deposits deep beneath the Red Sea.

After 12 years of consecutive growth, Papua New Guinea (PNG) started the new year by focusing its attention on facilitating a broader and more inclusive model for driving the economy forward. While PNG’s recent fortunes have been fuelled by the $19bn Exxon Mobil-led liquefied national gas (LNG) project, completion of the construction phase is set to change the economic dynamic this year by halving annual growth to an anticipated 4%.