Entries for 'Middle East North Africa'
March 16, 2016
During our recent visit to Qatar, we were impressed by the robust, albeit moderating, pace of economic activity, reflecting the continued large spendi
March 15, 2016
"¢' On March 14, the Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) devalued the pound by 14% and stated that it will adopt a more flexible exchange rate policy (Chart 1
March 10, 2016
Iran's February parliamentary elections were, overall, a victory for Iran's moderates (who favor economic and political reforms and engagement with th
March 3, 2016
The economy has been hit hard by the war with ISIS and the slump in oil prices, with severe consequences for Iraq's external position and budget reven
February 26, 2016
Minister Gordhan delivered a commendable budget that reduces the deficit quicker than had been anticipated in last October's Medium Term Budget Policy
February 24, 2016
During our recent visit to Tanzania, we were impressed by confidence that growth will remain robust despite the commodity bust and volatile weather th
February 18, 2016
Lebanon continues to suffer from political paralysis and the fallout of the civil war in Syria. The country has been without a president since May 201
February 5, 2016
Government officials and bankers with whom we met painted a mixed picture of current conditions and prospects for the UAE economy. While most official
February 4, 2016
Discussions during our recent visit to Kuwait highlighted improvement in the implementation of the five-year development plan and gradual fiscal conso
January 6, 2016
Actual spending declined by 12.6% in 2015 due to better than expected cost control measures. Nonetheless, the sha
December 17, 2015
Following the oil price crash, GCC states are drawing down their reserves ($2.4 trillion or 145% of GDP in 2014) and fiscal buffers to soften the blow
November 30, 2015
Speakers at the 2015 IIF MENA Regional Economic Forum in Cairo last week painted a somber picture of current conditions and prospects for the region's
November 30, 2015
Real GDP growth is projected to decelerate to 3.5% in FY2015/16, from an estimated 4.3% last year. The delays with reforms, an overvalued Egyptian pou
November 12, 2015
For the 15 MENA countries as a whole, we expect growth to be 3% in 2015, considerably below the average of 4.5% from 2005-2014. The drop in oil prices
October 23, 2015
Potential investors are now focusing on the Central Bank of Egypt's exchange rate policy. The current policy of capital controls to defend a highly ov
October 7, 2015
High oil prices over the past decade, combined with the safe-haven status of the UAE, have helped the UAE build large fiscal and external buffers to s
September 17, 2015
Les politiques appropriées des autorités combinées au faible cours du pétrole ont contribué Ã maintenir la stabilité macroéconomique et rédui
September 17, 2015
President Barack Obama has secured enough Senate votes to support the nuclear agreement between Iran and the P5+1. Once IAEA confirms that Iran has ta
August 27, 2015
One year dollar riyal forwards have risen sharply in reaction to ongoing oil price weakness, large projected fiscal deficits and the start of public d
August 20, 2015
The Moroccan authorities have implemented strong policy actions in the past three years to achieve macroeconomic stability and reduce vulnerabilities