All Countries and All Sectors

As 2012 gets underway, Sabah’s plantation sector players have been keeping a wary eye on both the weather and economic forecasts, as external factors threaten to challenge palm oil production. Meanwhile, the state’s rubber plantations await a major replanting campaign this year as part of national plans for commodities investment.

For Dubai, 2011 was a year of consolidation, with solid growth for many key economic sectors, the debt load of some of the emirate’s leading corporations sharply reduced and confidence growing apace, though concerns linger over how renewed economic slowdown elsewhere will impact the emirate.

Brunei Darussalam’s economy closed out 2011 in good health, with GDP rising, inflation under control and plans to build on existing strengths and develop new opportunities. However, concerns remain over the slowing global economic growth and how this may impact the country.

Having posted mixed results in 2011, South Africa’s economy was buoyed by rising demand for commodities and solid growth at home, while continued high unemployment, concerns over the European debt crisis and a slowdown in many of the country’s main trading markets saw a pessimistic close to the year.

Alors que 2011 a été une année turbulente pour de nombreux pays africains, une augmentation des recettes d’exportations générées par les hydrocarbures ainsi que d’importantes réserves financières ont permis d’épargner à l’Algérie les nombreuses incertitudes qui ont secoué la région. Le PIB a progressé de 2,9% en 2011 grâce à la hausse internationale des prix du pétrole qui a alimenté un ambitieux programme d’investissement public dans les infrastructures et l’industrie locale. Le Fonds monétaire international (FMI) prévoit une poursuite de la croissance du PIB algérien de l’ordre de 3,3% pour 2012 et jusqu’à 4% pour 2013.

In a sign that the country has performed well in the face of debt crisis affecting its neighbours in the EU, the Turkish government announced in January that the economy expanded 8% in 2011, with the construction, manufacturing, and retail sectors leading the way. Fears of a hard landing still remain, given Turkey’s chronic current account deficit and its recent struggles with inflation, but a burgeoning domestic economy, combined with political stability and a healthy fiscal position, have enabled the country to post decent macroeconomic data.