Middle Eastern and African market data, analysis and forecasts from Business Monitor International, the trusted source for business information and intelligence on global emerging markets.
Middle East & Africa Monitor provides political risk analysis, economic forecasts and business information for trade & industry across the Middle Eastern and African economies of the East Med, The Gulf, North Africa, Southern Africa, East & Central Africa and West Africa. Middle East & Africa Monitor is available as six printed, regional, monthly newsletters. Subscribers also receive password access to a searchable 24-month archive of Middle East & Africa Monitor articles and data online plus the ability to download PDFs of current and back issues of Middle East & Africa Monitor.
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Economy / Sudan
The ruling party in semi-autonomous South Sudan, Sudan People's Liberation Movement (SPLM), has agreed to compromise on its insistence on having a southerner in the role of secretary general of the Referendum Commission. A senior SPLM official stated that holding the referendum on time was of greater importance than blocking a northern candidate (which would almost certainly delay...
2010-08-25Economy / Tanzania
Voters on semi-autonomous Zanzibar endorsed a proposal to amend the archipelago's constitution which will allow rival parties to form a coalition government. The outcome bodes well...
2010-08-25Economy / Kenya
We are forecasting Kenya's current account deficit to reach 7.0% of GDP in 2010 - its highest level in the last ten years - and then begin to decline gradually, reaching 2.0% of GDP...
2010-08-24Economy / Lebanon
BMI View: Lebanon will find it hard to sustain the 2009 level of outperformance, in terms of real GDP growth, but as long as there is no further conflict with Israel, it will be among the strongest performers in the region. We are cautious as to the positive impact of new natural gas exploration activities at this stage. At best, they will reduce Lebanon's import bill, although...
2010-08-31Economy / Israel
The proposed peace talks with the Palestinian Authority have been further complicated by an untimely arms deal between Russia and Syria. The Israeli government is concerned that Lebanon's...
2010-08-31Economy / Lebanon
BMI View: Lebanon will find it hard to sustain the 2009 level of outperformance, in terms of real GDP growth, but as long as there is no further conflict with Israel, it will be among...
2010-08-31Economy / Libya
The Libyan government is considering possible investments in Zimbabwe - particularly in tourism and agriculture sectors. Notably, these are two core industries that have deteriorated under President Mugabe's rule but hold great potential for returns under the new coalition government. Libya's interests in strengthening its ties with other African states are no surprise, particularly...
2010-08-24Economy / Tunisia
We believe that the continuous promotion and emphasis of the government's five year development plans which include increasing trade at home and abroad, raises significant political...
2010-08-24Economy / Egypt
We see Egyptian real estate and construction sector growth slowly picking up, with strong demographics and increasingly attractive business environment generating higher demand for...
2010-07-26Economy / Namibia
The All Peoples' Party (APP) has withdrawn from a proposed alliance between several opposition parties after it was asked to forego running candidates in certain constituencies in local elections due in November. The party was particularly angered by the idea that it would not be allowed to contest elections in certain constituencies in the Kavango Region, which has traditionally...
2010-09-01Economy / Angola
In a highly unusual move, Angola's media regulator, the National Media Council (NMC) criticised state-run newspaper Jornal de Angola, for misrepresenting words spoken by an opposition...
2010-09-01Economy / Namibia
The SWAPO government plans to continue with a countercyclical fiscal policy, with spending on infrastructure and social sectors set to soar again in FY2010/11. This, combined with tumbling...
2010-09-01Economy / Kuwait
The Kuwaiti government is seeking to improve and strengthen its relations with Iran in order to secure regional peace in the Gulf. Kuwait's immediate dialogue with Iran has focused on safety assurances over the state of the regime's nuclear reactor, chiefly owing to the proximity between the two countries. Meanwhile the Kuwaiti government has also agreed to share its border oilfields...
2010-08-26Economy / Iraq
As the US army is gradually exiting Iraq, with the latest figures at the time of writing leaving around 50,000 troops in the country, we believe that there is an elevated risk that...
2010-08-26Economy / Iran
Russia and China are defending their ties with Iran as both face rising pressure from the US to impose further economic sanctions. One of Iran's nuclear power plants is on schedule...
2010-08-24Economy / Nigeria
Construction of the new deepwater container port at Lekki in Nigeria is expected to start in the first quarter of 2011. The proposed port is located 65km east of Lagos and the construction will begin once the government finalises the selection of contractors. More than 30 contractors have shown interest in the construction of the 500ha port.The port is designed to accommodate container...
2010-08-27Economy / Nigeria
According to the most recently available data from the Central Bank of Nigeria, reserves had fallen to US$37.7bn in mid-August from US$42.2bn at the beginning of the year. Although...
2010-08-27Economy / Cote d'Ivoire
After five years of delays, presidential elections will be held on October 31 according to Prime Minister Guillaume Soro. The date was agreed by the Ivoirian cabinet upon the recommendation...
2010-08-26
