Middle East ETF News Older than One Year
New World Bank Report Calls for a Level Playing Field for Business in the Middle East and North Africa Region
November 9, 2009--November 9, 2009 – A new report released by the World Bank’s Middle East and North Africa (MNA) region, From Privilege to Competition: Unlocking Private-Led Growth in the Middle East and North Africa, finds that the private sector is not yet generating enough jobs and sustaining higher growth in the region. A stronger private sector is needed as an estimated 40 million new jobs have to be created in MNA in the next decade.
For this to occur, countries in the region need to reduce discretion in the business environment to encourage more entrepreneurs to invest. The playing field must be leveled for the region’s businesses. It will require increasing transparency and strengthening institutions that enforce the rules.
Reforms implemented over the past two decades allowed private enterprises to become the principal source of wealth generated in MNA economies outside hydrocarbons and mining. However, the private sector has still not been able to transform MNA countries into diversified, vibrant economies with sustainable high growth record. With private investment averaging around 15 percent of GDP, MNA remains far behind more dynamic regions. Export diversification has increased recently. Yet, the best performers in the region export around 1,500 goods—most of them low in technological content—compared with close to 4,000 in countries like Poland, Malaysia or Turkey.
Although investment climate reforms have accelerated in many countries, the issue is not only the extent of reforms, but how they’re implemented. The report estimates that in response to previous reforms, private investment in the MNA region had increased by a modest 2 percentage points of GDP, compared to 5 to 10 points in Asia, Eastern Europe and Latin America. The limited impact of reforms in MNA is due to the unequal and unpredictable way in which policies are implemented, resulting in a lack of reform credibility in the eyes of many investors. Close to 60 percent of business managers surveyed do not think that the rules and regulations are applied consistently and predictably. These surveys also show that policy uncertainty, unfair competition and corruption appear as major concerns for investors.
As the business environment does not apply equally to everyone, new generations of entrepreneurs have been slow to emerge and compete with incumbents. The report estimates that the number of registered businesses per 1,000 people is less than a third of that in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. And with less entry and exits of firms, the average business is ten years older than in East Asia or Eastern Europe.
According to the report, unleashing the entrepreneurship potential of the region will require moving from deeply rooted privileges to a level playing field for all investors. “MNA is a region endowed with considerable human capital, creativity and resources, and its growth potential is immense. Meeting that potential will require a credible commitment to reduce discretion and ensure a more equal enforcement of the rules, so that more entrepreneurs can invest and create jobs.” said Shamshad Akhtar, MNA Vice President.
The report calls for a three pillar strategy for building a stronger foundation for longer term growth: First, governments need to remove formal and informal barriers to competition. Where they exist, privileged positions and conflicts of interests between public servants and private investors should be reduced. Second, policy reforms must be supported by strengthening the institutions that regulate markets and interact with firms, in order to reduce interference and discretion in the enforcement of rules and regulations. “To really improve the business environment for all in the region, transparency, accountability and quality of service in public agencies should be at the core of the reform agenda” added Shamshad Akhtar. Third, the region must foster a new partnership between the private and the public sectors, one that mobilizes all stakeholders in the design, implementation and evaluation of economic policies. Only then will consensus be built around the reforms, and their credibility and effectiveness reinforced. A more open dialogue between governments and the private sector will also help guard against narrow interests taking over the public interest. As Shamshad Akhtar notes: “The private sector has also a responsibility in this agenda. Too often, its voice has been dominated by proponents of the status quo in order to maintain their privileges. Already, a new generation of entrepreneurs is slowly emerging in MNA. Their ability to influence the future direction of reform will be crucial”.
The report emphasizes that the private sector in the MNA region needs to be a stronger agent of change. Its needs to be more inclusive and better organized to demand reforms that benefit all firms.
View MENA Development Report-From Privilege to Competition
Source: World Bank
DFM rises, led by Emaar
November 09, 2009--- Dubai Financial Market rose 1.44% today to close on 2,153. The day's most heavily traded stock, Emaar, climbed 2.85% to Dhs4.33.
Other big gainers included Union Properties and Arabtec, which rose 4.17% and 2.90%, respectively. Overall, 23 stocks ended higher, 6 fell, and one remained unchanged.
Source: Arab Daily
Dubai's ruler says worst of crisis is over
November 09, 2009--Dubai has seen the worst of the economic crisis and it has not harmed the emirate's ambitions, the city's ruler said today. 'The worst is over and Dubai is now well-placed,' Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al-Maktoum was quoted as saying by Reuters.
'The global economic crisis, despite its impact, will not deter Dubai's ambitions.' He also said talk of tension between Dubai Abu Dhabi was unfounded. 'There is no Dubai and Abu Dhabi, we are one,' he said. 'Who doesn't understand this should do their homework before they start talking ... We will be there for each other when we need it. And I want to tell those people who nag about Dubai and Abu Dhabi to shut up.'
Source: AME Info
ADX sees slight gain
The Abu Dhabi Securities Index had a slight gain of 0.24% today, even though there were almost twice as many decliners as gainers.
The health care and industrial sectors led the way, rising 3.98% and 3.60%, respectively. Overall, 17 stocks declined, ten rose, and six remained unchanged.
Source: Arab Daily
Lebanon predicts 7% GDP growth
November 08, 2009--Lebanon's central bank has forecast that the country's GDP will reach 7% in 2009, while inflation will set at 3%, the Daily Star has reported. Lebanon's balance of payments for the first nine- month period of 2009 had recorded a surplus of $4.8bn, according to Makram Bou Nassar, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Department at the Central Bank.
Customer deposits are growing by 20% annually and are expected to reach $100bn at the end of 2009, he said. The central bank's foreign assets, excluding gold, had reached a new historical high of $26bn, Bou Nasser noted
Source: AME Info
Saudi index rises 0.27%
November 09, 2009--Saudi Arabia's Tadawul index rose 0.27% today to close on 6,272, led by the insurance sector, which climbed 1.84%.
Anaam Holding was the day's big gainer, up 9.93% to 74.75 riyals, followed by Al Ahlia Insurance, which gained 9.68% to 102 riyal. Overall, 69 stocks rose while 40 fell.
Source: Arab Daily
Yemen plans stock exchange launch by year end
November 6, 2009--The Dubai Financial Market is helping Yemen with its plans to launch a stock exchange by the end of 2009.
Undersecretary of Yemen's Ministry of Finance Jalal Yaqoub told UAE news agency Wam that he has discussed with the bourse how his country could use the DFM's technical and technological expertise, along with how the DFM could promote and support the project. Nine government firms will be selected to implement governance standards in order to list them on the bourse, he said.
Source: AME Info
ADX ends week on slow fall
November 6, 2009--The Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) ended the day down by 1.04% after slow losses throughout the day, closing at 2,920.14.
Abu Dhabi National Hotels posted the biggest rise, going up by 4.40% to Dhs4.67. Four stocks rose, three held steady and 28 fell.
Source: AME Info
DFM ends down
November 6, 2009--The Dubai Financial Market (DFM) ended the day slightly lower, going down by 1.88% to 2,097.63. Five stocks rose, 25 fell and two held steady.
KFIC posted the day's biggest rise, moving up 14.91% to Dhs4.47. Emirates also announced its half yearly financial results for the period ended on 30/09/2009, as EK2013 bonds listed in the market.
Source: AME Info
Qatar to lower foreign tax rate
November 6, 2009--Qatar's finance minister has announced a new tax law that will lower the tax rate on foreign companies to a flat 10% starting next year, Bloomberg has reported.
Foreign-owned firms operating in Qatar are currently taxed at a progressive rate ranging from 10% to 35%. Qatar expects its economy to grow by 16% in 2010.
Source: Online News
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