All Countries and All Sectors

Local business leaders and foreign investors alike are expressing confidence in the outlook for Indonesia’s insurance sector despite a traditionally low base. Continued economic growth, low levels of penetration and good performances from leading firms so far this year are all upside indicators.

For many years, one of the greatest challenges Egypt has faced has been providing housing for its growing, youthful population. Indeed, the lack of decent housing for those in the lower- to middle-income bracket is thought to have been one of the triggers of last year’s revolution. The newly installed government, headed by Mohammad Morsy, is likely to make the housing shortfall a priority.

The number of international arrivals to Bahrain surged in mid-August, as visitors headed to the Gulf country to celebrate the post-Ramadan Eid holidays. The tourism sector appears to be more generally looking up after a challenging 2011, with its direct contribution to GDP projected to grow by 3.7% per year until 2022, according to the World Travel & Tourism Council. Recent investor activity is largely in line with these expectations, with a number of new hotels set to open in the coming years.

Expectations that Mongolia’s retail industry will be transformed by the nation’s rapidly growing mining sector appear on track, although rising inflation and a lack of human resources could threaten the sector’s potential.

The agricultural sector is becoming more modernised and export-oriented, with an emphasis placed on increasing output and quality, as well as nurturing niche areas. Despite a number of challenges, particularly regional unrest severely curtailing exports to and through Syria, Jordan is in a strong position to leverage its competitive advantages as an agricultural producer.

Stepping up efforts to attract foreign investment to its shores, Sharjah is reaching out to the global market to spur growth at home, though the emirate is facing stiff competition in an increasingly tight global market.