All Countries and All Sectors

A much-needed, multi-billion rand investment programme – spearheaded by Transnet’s capital upgrades and targeting South Africa’s transport bottlenecks – looks set to transform the country’s rail and port services, although historical issues over project delivery and pressure on the government fiscus have made its implementation a more complicated prospect.

The emirate’s retail sector is looking ahead to busier times, with solid sales growth expected and a swathe of new shopping developments set to be rolled out over the next 12 months. Such optimism is largely due to rising demand, which is currently fuelled by a young and increasingly affluent population, as well as the steadily growing number of overseas visitors.

Malaysia’s capital markets are in line for a boost, as the introduction of private pension funds is expected to create a significant funding inflow that will be directed towards various investment vehicles. This should also serve to take some of the pressure off the state’s retirement schemes.

Massive investments in infrastructure make for an excellent outlook for Qatar’s construction sector. The nation’s rising population, growing economy, increasing diversification and the forthcoming FIFA 2022 World Cup are all contributing factors.

Looking to build on recent successes, Bahrain’s insurance sector is reaching out to potential clients through greater use of tools such as bancassurance. The sector is also hoping plans for increased infrastructure spending will boost the call for coverage for the construction and industrial sectors.

A wave of new infrastructure and phased housing projects in Mongolia looks set to give the country’s construction sector a huge boost while also generating wide-ranging opportunities for foreign investors in the building industry.