Saudi Arabia’s defence expenditure was the sixth highest worldwide in 2021, behind the US, China, India, Russia and the UK. The localisation of industry, and enhanced research and development are core to Vision 2030, the government’s long-term blueprint for development. Given the defence sector’s traditional prominence in the annual budget, it is among the areas targeted to propel the...
Chapter | Security, Aerospace & Defence from The Report: Saudi Arabia 2022
With increasing oil and gas prices and an expanding non-oil sector, Saudi Arabia has been logging record trade surpluses in recent years, while securing government revenue for future investment. Saudi Arabia is expected to be among the fastest-growing economies in the G20 in 2022 – and the Kingdom was on track to fulfil that forecast by the middle of the year. Indeed, in the first three months...
Saudi Arabia has undergone significant reforms to foster growth and diversification. While some initiatives were delayed during the Covid-19 pandemic, progress in areas such as the digital economy accelerated. Aided by elevated oil prices in 2022, strategies underlined in Vision 2030 continue moving forwards, and the Kingdom today presents ample opportunities for foreign investors, underpinned by efforts to boost private sector participation in the economy.
Economic update | Focus Report: Misurata Free Zone positions itself as a gateway to Africa
As a free zone operating outside of Libyan domestic trade legislation, Misurata Free Zone (MFZ) is seeking to leverage its competitive advantages – including complete exemption from national commercial registration obligations and 100% foreign ownership of MFZ-based companies – to establish itself as a gateway to Africa.
Articles & Analysis | How is Côte d’Ivoire targeting sustainable economic transformation? from The Report: Cote d'Ivoire 2022
The National Development Plan (Plan National de Développement, PND) 2012-15, the first of three in recent history, was successful in stabilising and reviving the economy in an environment of restored peace. Both in planning and implementation, the PND 2012-15 constituted the backbone of the recovery and growth of the economy, supported by the country’s development partners....
Interviews & Viewpoints | Solange Amichia, Managing Director, Investment Promotion Agency of Côte d’Ivoire (Centre de Promotion des Investissements en Côte d’Ivoire, CEPICI): Viewpoint from The Report: Cote d'Ivoire 2022
Côte d’Ivoire made significant strides towards improving the business climate between 2011 and 2020. These efforts have contributed to economic development, resulted in the mobilisation of CFA5trn ($8.6bn) in private investment and created 58,000 jobs over that timeframe.