All Countries and All Sectors

Having recorded higher-than-expected growth in the second quarter of 2012, India should see a welcome fillip for an economy struggling to replicate the stellar performance of recent years.

The construction sector will be operating in a new environment starting next year when building regulations mandating the use of eco-friendly best practices are due to be implemented. However, the shift toward greater sustainability may prove challenging for some.

A major software developer’s plans to open a training centre in Dubai look set to strengthen the emirate’s bid to become a regional information technology (IT) centre, although growth in the sector could be hindered by the constraints start-ups face in finding financing.

The kingdom’s current economic model is highly integrated with its ability to trade with its neighbours, a model that, thus far, appears to be working well. Despite less than favourable economic headwinds, the World Economic Forum’s (WEF’s) “Global Competiveness Report” for 2012-13, ranked Jordan 64th out of 144 countries surveyed, rising seven places over the previous year.

Fears that the recent violence at mines in South Africa may push up borrowing costs and undercut investor confidence have been allayed, at least for the moment, with money flowing back into the country’s bond market. However, longer-term concerns over the local debt market remain.

As government programmes expand basic insurance coverage in Mongolia, economic growth spurred by resource revenues is expected to create surging demand in the private insurance market. However, ensuring the latter is managed by appropriate legislation represents a challenge to regulatory bodies.