All Countries and All Sectors

In late December Turkish parliamentarians approved a budget that would expand public spending, even as their European neighbours begin fiscal austerity programmes. Major increases in public employment and education spending are meant to help soften an expected economic downturn while investing in future growth.

Una disputa tributaria entre el operador español Telefónica y el estado peruano, junto con demoras en la renovación de la licencia operativa móvil de Telefónica para Lima y Callao, han dado pie a que se especule sobre importantes cambios en el sector de telecomunicaciones peruano en los meses venideros.

The privatisation of Nigeria’s power sector continues to ease forward, with the Ministry of Power now expecting the process to be completed by the second or third quarter of 2012. Meanwhile, in December the government licensed 20 independent power producers (IPPs), in a move that could significantly boost the country’s power-generating capacity over the next few years.

The Philippines may be heading towards a period of economic introspection, looking inward for growth and stability as the shadow of slower economic growth appears to be spreading over many of its key trading partners. The country’s inner strength was tested late in 2011, however, by natural disaster and other domestic concerns.

Last year saw the prospect of Mongolia’s vast untapped natural mineral wealth drive heady levels of investment and growth, with the government aiming to harness the momentum by diversifying the economy and improving infrastructure, employment and housing. However, Prime Minister S. Batbold’s administration will likely face political pressures over protecting the country's resources in the lead-up to this June’s election.

The introduction of a real estate regulatory agency in Oman is expected to instil greater confidence among foreign investors and promote better practices in this growing segment. Early this month the Council of Ministers took a first step towards getting the agency off the ground: it directed that a committee be formed to gauge the opinions of players involved in the sector to determine exactly what the agency could contribute