With earnings from oil accounting for more than 80% of government income, the halving of prices since June has eroded state revenue and could impact the extensive capital works programme in 2015, despite a government pledge to hike this year’s spending by 4.5% from its earlier plans.
Economic update | Oman Year in Review 2014
A string of major international trade agreements, due to be implemented in 2015, promise to strengthen and diversify Brunei Darussalam’s exports as it ramps up efforts to reduce its dependency on crude oil sales in the wake of plummeting prices.
Economic update | Dubai Year in Review 2014
Strong fundamentals and a diversified economy are keeping concerns at bay in Dubai, despite a potential cooling of investor sentiment across the region and weakening global conditions.
Despite the turmoil in global energy markets, Saudi Arabia moved towards the end of 2014 with its economy having outperformed many in the region.
With net insurance premium growth of 16% in 2013, the Peruvian insurance sector continues to outperform regional neighbours such as Mexico (11%) and Colombia (8%). Double-digit growth is expected to continue through 2015, propelled by small businesses and the modernisation of mature industries and infrastructure. However, gross premiums to GDP, which stood at 1.5% at the end of 2012 (half the...
Though Peru’s economic growth registered a slowdown in 2014 - to an estimated 3.1% according to the central bank compared to rates of between 5% and 9% for much of the past decade - the mining-led economy is expected to regain momentum in 2015 as diversification efforts continue and government measures to stimulate investment take effect.