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Al Zurfi’s nomination as Iraq PM first step to ending political deadlock on 08 April 2020 at 11:04 am - **Written and disseminated to select contacts on March 18, 2020** PM-designate Adnan Al Zurfi has until mid-April to form a cabinet and gain parliamentary approval. If successful, Iraq could form… »
Kuwait debt law delay could weigh on economic recovery post COVID-19 outbreak on 08 April 2020 at 11:04 am - **Written and disseminated to select contacts on March 18, 2020** A new debt law allowing Kuwait to tap global debt capital markets is unlikely to be approved and implemented in… »
Government push essential to Oman’s diversification plan, but oil market rout will weigh on 30 March 2020 at 12:03 pm - **Written and disseminated to select contacts on March 12, 2020** The accession of Sultan Haitham bin Tariq al-Said in Jan injected new vigour into a much needed but potentially unpopular… »
MbS moves to quash dissent with detainment of senior Saudi royals on 26 March 2020 at 12:03 pm - **Written and disseminated to select contacts on March 10, 2020** The move is intended to remind senior members of the ruling Al Saud family that, should King Salman suffer a… »
Israeli gas deliveries boost Egypt’s LNG ambitions on 21 January 2020 at 15:01 pm - Israeli gas deliveries will boost Egypt’s LNG ambitions, but East Med gas export plans face an uphill battle Emily Stromquist | Director of Energy| e.stromquist@castlereagh.net »
Iranian missile strikes on US bases on 08 January 2020 at 14:01 pm - What the attack achieved and what comes next – Tehran’s view Daniel Moshashai | Regional Analyst – Geopolitics and Infrastructure | d.moshashai@castlereagh.net »

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Developing cyber resilience: the GCC’s approach 7 April 2020 - The development of new technologies brings great opportunities – but also the potential for security breaches and potentially devastating cyberattacks. In the lead up to the 15th G20 summit in Riyadh, GCC countries are evaluating their own readiness to cope… »
The EV revolution and MENA 3 April 2020 - Electric vehicle (EV) uptake will gain momentum in the MENA region over the coming years, particularly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Morocco, as governments continue to push for technology adoption and green energy initiatives. While there is… »
Most likely to succeed? Potential scenarios for kuwaiti succession 31 March 2020 - With Kuwaiti ruler Sheikh Sabah now approaching his 91st birthday, the region’s attention is turning to the topic of succession once again. The transition of power to Crown Prince Sheikh Nawaf seems relatively certain. However, the matter of who will… »
What the doctor ordered: Pharma drives economic growth in Central Europe 27 March 2020 - Leveraging location, low costs, and strong legacy companies with a skilled labour pool, the pharmaceutical industry is a quiet success story in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The sector is a major contributor to exports and R&D spending in several… »
UAE steel faces uncertain times 24 March 2020 - Steel manufacturers in the UAE have been faced with slowdowns in domestic demand in recent times, as real estate and infrastructure projects have tapered off. At the same time, protectionism has been choking overseas markets for these firms while domestic… »
GCC responds to twin crises with financial rescue packages 20 March 2020 - The GCC states are all seeking policy responses to the twin crises of a sharp drop in oil prices and devastating economic effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. With business activity coming to a halt and government revenues from oil exports… »

The EV revolution and MENA

Electric vehicle (EV) uptake will gain momentum in the MENA region over the coming years, particularly in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan and Morocco, as governments continue to push for technology adoption and green energy initiatives. While there is limited potential for the region’s main automotive manufacturing countries to capitalise, increased EV demand will spur investment opportunities in charging infrastructure and vehicle-to-grid (V2G) services. The lower oil price environment and ongoing uncertainty with regard to the COVID-19 pandemic present the largest risk to uptake.

What the doctor ordered: Pharma drives economic growth in Central Europe

Leveraging location, low costs, and strong legacy companies with a skilled labour pool, the pharmaceutical industry is a quiet success story in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The sector is a major contributor to exports and R&D spending in several countries, and has become a magnet for M&A deals in recent years.

Tunisia: Strong investor interest to energise renewables

Attracting investment into its domestic renewable energy sector will remain a priority of the Tunisian government over the coming years in line with its efforts to boost energy security and increase foreign direct investment inflows. The strong growth potential of the market and increasing competition in the global renewable energy sector will ensure the country remains an investment bright spot. Risks remain pertinent, however, given elevated levels of political uncertainty and concerns over the financial stability of the off-taker, STEG.

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