All Countries and All Sectors

The signing of a peace agreement between the Philippines government and separatist rebels on the island of Mindanao may result in significant social and economic benefits, including a much-needed boost to the agriculture sector, which has long lagged behind regional rivals.

With food security becoming an increasingly important issue globally, and in the arid Middle East in particular, Dubai appears to have positioned itself to play an important role in meeting the most basic needs of the region, having emerged as a major processing and food re-exporting centre.

Egypt benefits from a sizable supply of natural resources, including gas reserves that place it amongst the top three producers on the African continent. While a steep rise in domestic demand has increased pressure on producers, prompting a rethink in how the country uses its gas, new gas finds and temporary gas imports will help alleviate concerns.

Stepping up efforts to capitalise on its hydrocarbons wealth, Oman is boosting its downstream industrial capacity by expanding the petrochemicals sector and providing the fuel stocks needed to power other industries. However, the success of this programme still pins much of the country’s economic growth on its oil and gas resources.

Ras Al Khaimah’s (RAK’s) tourism sector continues to exceed expectations, with visitor arrivals well up on forecasts and overseas investment flowing in. However, the emirate faces stiff competition in a crowded market to develop brand recognition.

As gas consumption levels reach record highs in Malaysia and across the continent, the country is positioning itself as a regional trade centre for liquefied natural gas (LNG). With a series of capital-intensive LNG investments, Malaysia will likely see a strong increase in LNG import-export volumes for some time to come. However, muted economic growth in China and India could limit the country’s ability to export its new LNG production.