Economy

Steady demand for life products has continued to underpin growth in Thailand’s insurance market, with shifting demographics and government efforts to boost personal and retirement coverage providing opportunities for insurers.

A steep rise in demand for life coverage – traditionally a smaller segment than non-life lines – has been driving growth in Kenya’s insurance sector over the course of 2017.

Malusi Gigaba, South Africa’s minister of finance, delivered the Medium-Term Budget Policy Statement (MTBPS) to Parliament on October 25, outlining a mix of partial privatisations and infrastructure spending aimed at spurring economic growth while still pursuing fiscal consolidation.

Saudi Arabia is furthering plans to create the world’s largest sovereign wealth fund and use it as a vehicle for driving economic growth, a move that will have a far-reaching impact on regional and global markets.

On the back of efforts to encourage more international business activity, the Philippines registered the highest rate of foreign direct investment (FDI) growth in the ASEAN region last year, with the country hoping to capitalise on the global attention generated by hosting the bloc’s most recent summit to enhance trade and investment flows.