All Countries and All Sectors

With its large and growing population, expanding economy and sizeable industrial sector, Egypt is an energy-hungry country, and demand for electricity is forecast to double within the next decade and a half. To meet soaring consumption, the country has long been preparing to increase capacity through the construction of several power plants.

Major changes are under way in the Turkish health care system in both the private and public sectors. While higher rates of hospital accreditation and a focus on attracting foreign customers is increasing the quality of care in the private sector, more Turkish citizens and permanent residents will be enrolled in the state system, following the institution of a universal health insurance policy.

Looking to give the country’s education system a radical overhaul, Thailand’s newly appointed minister of education is looking to greater emphasise the use of technology and boost reforms to develop a knowledge-based economy. Suchart Thada-Thamrongvech, who began his post after last month’s cabinet reshuffle, hopes the reforms will also help prepare Thailand for the next stage of ASEAN integration.

The Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM), the country’s central bank, has put in place a series of new measures aimed at boosting the competitiveness of the national economy and in particular its financial sector. It is hoped this set of reforms will help ease the impact of the European debt crisis and the threat of a further bout of uncertainty in global markets.

Expectations that Papua New Guinea (PNG) will emerge as a major energy supplier for Asia’s growth leaders in the next decade have been heightened by reports of progress on two major liquefied natural gas (LNG) plants currently under development.

South Africa is planning a major overhaul of its higher education system, with a greater emphasis given to vocational training as a means to bridge the skills gap in the national economy. The government aims to achieve a six-fold increase in the number of places available at colleges by 2030, although the financial and human resources needed for such an effort are sizeable.