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Economy of Palestine The Palestinian economy is small and relatively open, although several large holding companies dominate some sectors. Because of the small size of the local market, access to foreign markets through trade is essential for private sector growth. Restrictions on the movement and access of goods and people between the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, and external markets imposed by the Government of Israel continue to have a deleterious effect on the private sector and limit economic growth. During the second Intifada the Palestinian economy experienced the deepest recessions in modern history. In those two years, Palestinian real GDP per capita shrunk by almost 40 percent. The precipitator of this economic crisis was again a multi-faceted system of restrictions on the movement of goods and people. Nevertheless, the Palestinian economy continued to exhibit some degree continuity and resilience. The proliferation of small business projects and informal economic activities have contributed to it weathering and adapting to the difficult conditions. The services sector constituted the largest one in the West Bank economy in Q3/2014, accounting for 19.3% of GDP. This sector was followed by wholesale and retail trade (17.6%) and mining, manufacturing, electricity and water (16.4%). The services sector constituted the largest one in the West Bank economy in Q3/2014, accounting for 19.3% of GDP. This sector was followed by wholesale and retail trade (17.6%) and mining, manufacturing, electricity and water (16.4%). - See more at: http://unispal.un.org/UNISPAL.NSF/0/1695268E83B78ACA85257E20004E79EF#sthash.WD82sd9V.dpuf
In the Gaza Strip the largest sector of the economy in 2013 was construction, followed by services and public administration. Together, these three sectors account for more than 70% of total GDP. Productive sectors such as agriculture and manufacturing contribute relatively little to total GDP in the Gaza Strip. The West Bank and Gaza have both experienced economic progress since the Oslo Accords but structural differences between the two areas remain. Between 1995 and 2000, the Palestinian economy was growing at an average rate of 6% per year. If that trend had continued after 2000, when restrictions intensified, real GDP may have been more than double its current value to reach over $8 billion. Following a long-term trend, Gazan nominal GDP per capita in 2012, at $1,565, remains around half that of the West Bank ($3,196). While there are a number of common factors constraining development in both areas (e.g. limited access to water and energy, restrictions on movement and access, and poor infrastructure), such factors are significantly amplified in Gaza. Partly due to these restrictions, the slowdown in economic activity observed in 2012 was stronger in Gaza, where GDP growth fell from 21% in 2011 to less than 7% in 2012. Although Palestine has very limited natural resources, it still has a highly renewable human capital resource. 57% of the population under the age of twenty and the rate of 65% under the age of twenty-fifth means an increase in the labour force, including a total of 500,000 workers in the next five years. This is in addition to the potential inherent in the working women's race, which is considered a strategic reserve for the labour force. This tendency has its impact on the availability of young labour force and an incentive for more investments in the economy. Palestinian diaspora The estimated one million Palestinians who have emigrated since 1948 (as well as their children) serve as a vital lifeline for Palestinians who remain in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. As a percentage of its GDP, the Palestinian territories are one of the most dependent economies in the world on remittances. The latest data from IMF in 2010 shows US$ 431m being transferred by workers employed abroad.
Essential Information Area: 6,257 sq km (West Bank 5,879 sq km; Gaza 378 sq km).
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Economy of Oman Oman is a middle-income economy that is heavily dependent on dwindling oil resources. Because of declining reserves, Muscat has actively pursued a development plan that focuses on diversification, industrialization, and privatization, with the objective of reducing the oil sector's contribution to GDP to 9% by 2020. Tourism and gas-based industries are key components of the government's diversification strategy. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more time to diversify, and the increase in global oil prices throughout 2010 and 2011 provides the government greater financial resources to invest in non-oil sectors. In the same time, Oman lies on a strategic Strait of Hormuz, where 40 percent of the world's oil shipments pass. Since 1970 the average per capita income has increased more than 5,000 per cent from $343 to reach $18,000 in 2009 and literacy rates have soared. But the question now is whether Oman can keep the momentum going. The achievements of the past 40 years have been made possible by vast revenues from oil production. However, increases in social welfare benefits, particularly since the Arab Spring, will challenge the government's ability to effectively balance its budget if oil revenues decline. By using enhanced oil recovery techniques, Oman succeeded in increasing oil production, giving the country more time to diversify. Oman has successfully executed its diversification strategy as non-oil GDP to grow 5.4 per cent in 2011 from 3.1 per cent in 2009. The non-oil sector's contribution to GDP rose considerably from 52.7 per cent in 2001 to 72.2 per cent in 2011. Factors such as high domestic demand, an expansionary fiscal policy and growth in the non-oil economy would bolster economic growth to average 5.1 per cent over 2013–17. Oman Vision 2020 Created in Muscat, the Vision 2020 of Oman was adopted in June 1995. Vision 2020 focuses on all of the aspects of the Oman economy ranging from human resources to economic diversification. As per the Vision 2020, Oman is expected to be a non-oil dependent country as it increases the measures of diversification into the services, industrial and financial sectors. Due to the fact that Oman is highly dependent on hydrocarbon for its revenues and growth. Oil’s share of total GDP is expected to drop to 9% in 2020 as compared to 41% in 2009. Oman focus on industrial sector is evident in the Vision 2020 as it plans to increase its share in GDP to 29% in 2020 as compared to 18.5% in 2009. Natural Gas is expected to see further development in production and exploration as Oman expects its contribution to GDP to reach 10% which is higher than the oil contribution. Oman is expected to carry out a third liquefied natural gas (LNG) train raising its capacity to 10mtpa of LNG. LNG is expected to become the largest non oil earner in the Omani economy and is expected to generate USD24bn over the next 25 years. Non-oil contribution to GDP is expected to reach 81% in 2020 as compared to 61.3% enjoyed in 2009. Agriculture & fishing on the other hand is estimated to contribute more than 5% in 2020 through tax incentives to corporation on income for 5 years. Paired with this is the carefully structured tourism strategy, aimed at high net worth individuals. One of the main goals of the Tourism Ministry is to represent Oman as a year-round destination.
Essential Information Area: 312,500 sq km Education
Non-sponsored business or tourist visitors can obtain two-week visas from consulates and embassies abroad. Some five days are required to process an application.
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Economy of Morocco Morocco's market economy benefits from the country's relatively low labour costs and proximity to Europe, which aid key areas of the economy such as agriculture, light manufacturing, tourism, and remittances. Morocco is also the world's largest exporter of phosphate, which has long provided a source of export earnings and economic stability. Economic policies pursued since 2003 have brought macroeconomic stability to the country with generally low inflation, improved financial performance, and steady progress in developing the service and industrial sectors. However, poverty, illiteracy, and unemployment rates remain high. France has played a major part in Morocco’s economy since it was the country's first foreign investor, creditor and most importantly the first trade partner. Many agreements have since taken place with other countries, the latest two being the ‘US-Morocco Free Trade Agreement’ with the USA, which came into being on 1 January 2006, and the ‘free exchange’ with Turkey. Over the last 50 years Morocco has continued to grow, with its GDP per capita rising to 47% in the 60s and, just ten years later, peaking to a massive 274%. Unfortunately a massive change in trend caused it to recess to just 8.9% by the nineties. In recent years, Morocco's economy has been expanding thanks to free trade deals with international partners, but unemployment remains an issue - especially for graduates. Although Morocco’s economic performance over the past decade has been sound overall, the crisis in Europe, high world commodity prices, and a poor harvest slowed growth in 2012 and put pressures on the fiscal and external accounts. According to Moroccan Economy and Finance Minister, Morocco is feeling the effects of the world economic crisis after years of trying to keep out of it. The new problems include a decrease in liquidity, deteriorating trade figures, and a decline in remittances from Moroccans working abroad. Nevertheless, thanks to recent economic reforms, Morocco has improved its overall competitiveness, according to a new report from the World Economic Forum. The Geneva-based organization ranked Morocco 70th in a list of 140 countries, an improvement from 75th place in 2010. The report indicates that Morocco improved its standing by improving its business climate, standard of living, sustainable economic growth, and foreign investment. In addition to being ranked 70th globally, it was ranked 9th in the MENA region and 2nd in the Southern Mediterranean. Morocco performed especially well in the area of tourism, ranking 26th globally due to its impressive investment plans to expand the sector. If it plans correctly, the Forum believes Morocco could achieve its goal of becoming a top 20 tourist destination. Morocco continues to face external risks linked to uncertainties in the euro zone and volatility of oil prices.
Essential Information Area: 710,850 sq km, this including the Western Sahara.
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Economy of Mauritania The Mauritania economy is agricultural economy. Half the population still depends on agriculture and livestock for a livelihood, even though many of the nomads and subsistence farmers were forced into the cities by recurrent droughts in the 1970s and 1980s. The nation's coastal waters are among the richest fishing areas in the world, but overexploitation by foreigners threatens this key source of revenue. Mauritania has extensive deposits of iron ore. Mauritania’s mining industry represented 27 percent of the gross domestic product (2010). This portion was estimated to reach 28 percent of GDP in 2011 and expected to fall back to 25 percent in 2012. Mining industry accounts for 75% of Mauritania’s total export, but less than 3 percent of employment (2010). Almost one out of two Mauritanians lives below the poverty line, and a large segment of the population remains subject to food insecurity. GDP in the last ten years has increased remarkably in absolute values, however, real GDP growth is characterised by high volatility, with a stable trend line for nominal GDP. The structure of the Mauritanian economy, which is characterised by the predominance of the secondary and tertiary sectors (34.7% and 44.8% of GDP respectively), remained largely unchanged between 2009 and 2010. The secondary sector remained dominated by the extractive industries (24.8% of GDP in 2009) the largest part of which was attributable to metals mining (20% of GDP). Production of oil products declined, which resulted in a contribution of only 4.8% to GDP. Manufacturing and construction are limited and account for just 4.1% and 5.7% of GDP. Trade (11.2% of GDP), goods and services (12.7%) and public administration (16.1%) make up the principal activities of the tertiary sector, while livestock (10.7%) and fishing (5.3%) account for the majority of the primary. This GDP structure should remain stable for the coming years. The secondary sector should also benefit with the start of activities of certain mining investments. Essential Information Area: 1,030,700 sq km
Visas are required for all visitors which may be obtained from Mauritanian diplomatic and consular missions. Smallpox and yellow fever immunization is necessary. |
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The Libyan economy is fully dependent on the hydrocarbon sector – specifically oil. Substantial revenues from the energy sector coupled with a small population give Libya one of the highest per capita GDPs in Africa, but under the former regime little of this income flows down to the lower orders of society. The process of lifting US unilateral sanctions began in the spring of 2004; all sanctions were removed by June 2006, helping Libya attract greater foreign direct investment, especially in the energy sector. During 2004–10, average growth was approximately 5 per cent, and foreign assets increased from $20 billion at end-2003 to $170 billion by end-2010. The non-hydrocarbon sectors grew rapidly––albeit from a low base––on the back of an ambitious public investment program, but the country remained dependent on hydrocarbons, which accounted for over 70 per cent of GDP, more than 95 per cent of exports, and approximately 90 per cent of government revenue. Development of the nascent private sector was constrained by the dominance of the state and by institutional weaknesses. As of end-2010, unemployment was estimated officially at 13.5 per cent with youth unemployment at 25–30 per cent. During the revolution, the prolonged fighting had a far-reaching impact on standards of living, provision of basic services, and employment: economic activity contracted sharply in 2011 and consumer prices increased, primarily due to international sanctions and supply constraints. The restoration of hydrocarbon output underpinned the recovery of economic activity in 2012, with a resulting doubling of real GDP. Consumer price inflation has been falling, with a year-on-year rate of -3.7 per cent in December 2012. The overall budget balance moved to a surplus of 20.8 per cent in 2012, from a deficit of 18.7 per cent of GDP in 2011. Similarly, the current account surplus widened to 36 per cent, from 9 per cent of GDP in 2011. Finally, broad money grew by 11.5 per cent with a modest shift from currency into deposits, and credit to the private sector increased by some 24 per cent. Libya faces a long road ahead in liberalizing its primarily socialist economy, but the revolution has unleashed previously restrained entrepreneurial activity and increased the potential for the evolution of a more market-based economy. Climatic conditions and poor soils severely limit agricultural output, and Libya imports about 80% of its food. Libya's primary agricultural water source is the Great Manmade River Project. But despite these challenges there are many reasons for optimism including Libya’s strategic position, its population with 50 per cent between the age of 18 and 45 years old and oil reserves of 60 billion barrels. Economic Diversification Actually Libyan oil sector constitutes about 50% of GDP, and 80% of government revenue. Diversification is an important issue because at current rates of production, Libyan oil reserves are not expected to last beyond the second decade of this century. Thus, the long-term health of the Libyan economy hinges on developing a self-sustaining non-petroleum sector. Otherwise, once oil reserves are depleted, Libya will become as poor as it was before its current oil boom. The non-oil sector plays a role in the national growth. The attempts to boost the non-oil sector have given some results. For most of the last five years, new IMF figures show, the non-oil sector has been growing much faster - with growth rates from 6 to 10 percent - than the hydrocarbon sector. The non-oil developments are dominated by foreign workers. However, two factors are of paramount importance. First Libya's GDP exhibits a very high level of volatility, with growth rates ranging from -36% to 60% in the last 20 years. Second, the performance of the country's GDP clearly trails that of world oil prices, which leaves the country open to a great deal of external risk and uncertainty. From a policy perspective, post-oil diversification should be made a national priority and should be coupled with a government strategy geared towards job creation for the youth. To this end, the transitional authorities face several complex issues.
Essential Information Area: 1,775,000sq km Education:
Passports must be accompanied by an official Arabic translation of the essential details. Most passport issuing authorities provide this on request, in the form of a visa-like stamp. Visas are required by holders of most non-Arab passports.
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Lebanon has a free-market economy and a strong laissez-faire commercial tradition. The Lebanese economy is service-oriented; main growth sectors include banking and tourism. There are no restrictions on foreign exchange or capital movement, and bank secrecy is strictly enforced. There are practically no restrictions on foreign investment. Services account for 76% of the GDP. Tourism is undergoing through a strong growth phase as a result of huge investments. The information technology (IT) sector is also developing. The manufacturing sector accounts for 18.7% of the GDP. The main industrial activity is building & construction and civil engineering, but other activities such as jewellery and food-processing are also well developed. Lebanon held the second-biggest gold reserves in the Middle East and Africa after Saudi Arabia. Its long tradition of liberal investment policies, free foreign exchange market, full currency convertibility, free movement of capital and its solid banking system, have made Lebanon an ideal country for conducting business. Lebanon has the potential for brighter economic prospects over the medium to long term. A stable political environment, structural reform (including improvement in governance) and the recent discovery of significant recoverable offshore gas reserves could move the economy to a sustainable, higher growth path beyond 2016 and help to bring government debt down to more sustainable levels. Lebanon has potentially significant natural gas resources relative to the size of its economy. Seismic surveys, mainly by the United States Geological Survey (USGS), suggested that the Levant Basin Province has a mean of 1.7 billion barrels of recoverable oil and a mean of 122 trillion cubic feet of recoverable gas. The Levant Basin Province encompasses approximately 83,000 square kilometers of the eastern Mediterranean area off the coasts of Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Israel and Palestine. Some experts value the gas reserves at $400 billion (equivalent to about 10 times Lebanon’s GDP), but the consensus value is $120 billion. In the first year of gas production, output could increase by double-digit levels. Substantial government revenues from gas exports are expected beyond 2017, which could shift the fiscal deficits to a surplus, significantly narrow the external current account deficits, strengthen economic growth, and bring down the debt-to-GDP ratio to well below 100% of GDP by 2020. Lebanon has seen an influx of Syrian refugees, now estimated at more than one million , equivalent to 25% of Lebanon’s population. Spillover from Syria will remain a key issue to the government of Lebanon.
Essential Information Area: 10,452 sq km
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Kuwait has a geographically small, but wealthy, relatively open economy with crude oil reserves of about 102 billion barrels - about 7% of world reserves. The average economic growth over the past 10 years was 4.7 percent, while surplus generated by oil proceeds increased from USD 14 billion in 2001 to USD 41 billion in 2010. Petroleum accounts for nearly half of GDP, 95% of export revenues, and 95% of government income. Kuwaiti officials have committed to increasing oil production to 4 million barrels per day by 2020. In 2010, Kuwait passed an economic development plan that pledges to spend up to $130 billion over five years to diversify the economy away from oil, attract more investment, and boost private sector participation in the economy. According to IMF reports, Kuwait has maintained a largely stable macroeconomic environment and showed strong macroeconomic outcomes in recent years, but it still faces challenges to improve its physical and social infrastructure and to diversify its economic base. The economy remains oil dominated and the private sector is largely dependent on government spending and expatriate labour. The labour market is highly segmented: Kuwaiti nationals work primarily in the public sector—about 80 per cent of the Kuwaiti labour force is employed in the public sector—and Kuwaitis constitute only 7 per cent of the private sector labour force, while expatriates are employed mostly in the private sector. Kuwait has kept strong ratings by Standard and Poor's Ratings Service on its financial position with a stable outlook. The rating agency put the State of Kuwait at "AA" for long-term ratings, and "A-1+" for short-term ratings with a stable outlook for this rating. The ratings on Kuwait are supported by the sovereign rich resource, which has led to high levels of wealth and enabled it to build very strong external and fiscal balance sheet positions.
Essential Information Area: 17,820 sq km. Education Visas are required by all visitors except passport holders from Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the UAE. Transit passengers with a through booking on the same aircraft, to a third country are exempt. Passengers in transit who will be leaving the country within 24 hours are also exempt, provided they do not leave the transit area; i.e. they do not legally enter the country.
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Jordan''s economy is among the smallest in the Middle East. Jordan’s economy is dominated by services, which account for over 65 percent of GDP and more than 75 percent of jobs. Jordan’s natural resources are potash and phosphate, agricultural land is limited and water is considerably scarce. With insufficient supplies of water, oil, and other natural resources, the government is heavily reliance on foreign assistance. Other economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. Jordan has made significant headway with privatisation. The Jordanian economy is private-sector oriented. Accordingly, direct state ownership is relatively small. It is significant only in the mining sector (phosphates and potash) and in public utilities (electricity, water, communications, and bus, railway and air transport). Jordan has experienced strong economic growth (more than seven percent annually) with a remarkable upward trend since 2004. Much of this growth is due to rising exports, its location as a services hub to Iraq, and private capital inflows. The global economic slowdown and regional turmoil, however, have depressed Jordan''s GDP growth, impacting export-oriented sectors, construction, and tourism. The regional unrest has generated adverse spillover effects on economic activity in the Kingdom, driven by a retrenchment in investment, tourism and exports which also suffered from the continued poor performance of the world economy. Economic challenges for the government include chronic high rates of poverty, unemployment, inflation, and a large budget deficit. The kingdom has the world’s fourth-largest reserves of oil shale (about 40 billion tons), an organic-rich, fine-grained sedimentary rock from which liquid hydrocarbons (shale oil) can be produced. Shale oil is a substitute for conventional crude oil, and the oil can also be burned directly for power production similar to coal. Shale could help strengthen the fiscal position of Jordan whose economy has been impacted by the regional upheaval in the Arab world.
Essential Information Area: 89,342 sq km
Visas are required for US, UK and all European nationals; a seven-day tourist can be obtained at the airports and frontiers. For stays exceeding three months a residence permit is required.
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Iraq's economy is dominated by the oil sector. Oil exports provide over 90% of government revenue and 80% of foreign exchange earnings. Prior to the outbreak of the war with Iran in September 1980, Iraq's economic prospects were bright. Oil production had reached a level of 3.5 million barrels per day, and oil revenues were $21 billion in 1979 and $27 billion in 1980. At the outbreak of the war, Iraq had amassed an estimated $35 billion in foreign exchange reserves. Essential Information Area: 438,317 sq km
Visa Requirements: All visitors, except Jordanian and some other Arab nationals, require visas. Visitors must be sponsored and visas must be obtained in advance. Anyone remaining for more than 15 days must register with the residence department and may subsequently require an exit visa to depart.
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Essential Information
Origins
The origins nationalist notion of cultural and political unity among Arab countries lie in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, when increased literacy led to a cultural and literary renaissance among Arabs of the Middle East. This contributed to political agitation and led to the independence of most Arab states from the Ottoman Empire (1918) and from the European powers (by the mid-20th century). An important event was the founding in 1943 of the Baath Party, which formed branches in several countries and became the ruling party in Syria and Iraq. Another was the founding of the Arab League in 1945. Pan-Arabism's most charismatic and effective proponent was Egypt's Gamal Abdel Nasser.
Arab League
The Arab League or League of Arab States was a regional organisation formed on March 22, 1945 (Alexandria Protocol) and based in Cairo. It initially comprised Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Iraq, Transjordan (now Jordan), Saudi Arabia, and Yemen; joining later were Libya, Sudan, Tunisia, Morocco, Kuwait, Algeria, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Mauritania, Somalia, Palestine, Djibouti, and Comoros. The league's original aims were to strengthen and coordinate political, cultural, economic, and social programs and to mediate disputes; a later aim was to coordinate military defence. The official language is Arabic. The total Population of the Arab League was estimated at 345.98 Million in 2007.
Emerging Arab world and business opportunities
The Arab world, a home to more than 360 million people, representing 5% of the world’s population, with an area of about 13.3 million km2 (about 10% of the world inhabited land), and around 2799 billion dollars Gross Domestic Product (3.7% of global GDP), is playing a greater role in the world economy. Moreover, the Arab world will be a centre to the Islamic economy, estimated at US$3 trillion, a new economic paradigm that is likely to have a significant global impact over the next decade.
The abundant revenues of oil and gas made of the Arab world the largest region in terms of sovereign wealth funds in the world, with total assets estimated at about $1970 billion (38% of the total world assets). If well invested, the available huge funds are the stone corner to diversify the local economies in the Arab countries. In terms of investments in the Arab world as a whole, they have increased from $6.1 billion in 2000 to $79.3 billion in 2009, this level is comparable to that of China ($95 billion 2009) (UNCTAD data). The ongoing pattern of global growth, with emerging economies grow faster than their advanced counterparts, and the shift in the global economic power, ensures that Middle East and Africa are expected to be the fastest growing regions in 2018, which means huge needs in terms of investments mainly infrastructure, renewable energy, health, education, etc… just to mention a few.
With more than 135 million internet users in the Arab world, a new generation of entrepreneurs, passionate about technology, is emerging. This region is expected to post robust growth over the next decade both in terms of population and GDP. By 2015 the Arab population is forecast to reach 371m, about 50% increase over the level in 2000. Whereas the real GDP (based on PPP) is expected to grow by about 190%.
Doing business in the Arab world becomes a corner stone for the local governments. The battle is now between the economic ministers in terms of the most business-friendly economy. Several Arab governments implemented regulatory reforms in the past years aimed at improving the business environment. Investing the Arab funds locally and attracting FDIs are very crucial in order to satisfy the increasing needs for infrastructure, transport, education, health care, housing, business services, logistics, agriculture, oil and petrochemicals, financial sector, defense, industrial output as well as Islamic products.
In spite of the numerous advantages of the Arab world, the ongoing political turmoil hit hard many economies of the region. The absence of a demonstrated international competitiveness in either manufacturing or services as well as corruption constitute one of the main obstacles for doing business. Institutional reform, capacity building, reforming the education and the regulations facing business remains essential.
Moreover, the Arab world needs to create a dynamic private-sector in order to create sufficient employment. This will be done through high competitiveness, an educational system which meets the labour markets’ needs, and through encouraging applied sciences to transform ideas into real business projects, as well as through more consolidated trade and economic relations with the external world.
If the Arab region’s employment challenge can be successfully addressed, the region’s young demographic could then turn from a potential liability to a bonus. I believe it is time more than ever to invest in this region, not only because of the high return on investment, but also because the birth of the new economic paradigm, the future “G7”, passes through this region.
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Arab world major Statistics for 2013
Arab World Population by country source: World factbook, CIA
Arab World GDP at PPP ($ Billion
Source: World factbook, CIA, data for Libya and Somalia are for 2011.
Arab World GDP per capita
* Data for Somalia are for 2011.
Source: World factbook, CIA and International Monetary Fund.
Arab World exchange rate
Arab world: Gross domestic product (international comparaison with other emerging economies) current prices ($bn), 1991-2015
Arab world: Real GDP growth (international comparaison with economic blocs) current prices ($bn), 2012-2018
Arab world: Real GDP growth: comparaison between Oil-exporting countries
source: IMF regional economic outlook 2012.
* Total for oil importing including Iran.
Arab world: Real GDP growth: comparaison between Oil-importing countries
Source: IMF regional economic outlook 2012.
1. In the IMF data under West Bank and Gaza.
2. Data for 2011exclude South Sudan after July 9. Data for 2012 and onward pertain to the current Sudan.
* Total for oil importing including Afghanistan and Pakista.
Arab world: Arab world Foreign direct investment flows (Million $) 2011
Arab world: Geographic distribution of FDI 2006
Arab world: Global Competitiveness Index: 2014-2015 rankings (vs. 2012-2013 rankings)
Arab World Largest Souveraign wealth funds
Ease of Doing Business Rank 2015 Source: World Bank
Arab world: Free trade agreements with Switzerland Source: UNCTAD
Arab world: Swiss direct investment in the Arab world (international comparaison): Million SFr Source: UNCTAD
Arab world: Number of tourists arrivals from the Arab world in Geneva hotels for 2012 (hotel arrivals) (International comparaison) Source: UNCTAD
Energy Sector
Oil Reserves by country 2015 (Trillion Cubic Feet)
Source: EIA
Gas Reserves by country 2015 (Billion Barrels)
Source: EIA
Oil Price
Crude Oil Export Price (US$/bbl)
Source: IMF
Trade between Switzerland and the Arab world
Switzerland: Exports to the Arab countries 2007-2014: Swiss Francs
Source of data: Swiss customs
Switzerland: Imports from the Arab countries 2007-2014: Swiss Francs
Source of data: Swiss customs
Switzerland Trade with the Arab World 2012: Swiss Francs
Source of data: Swiss customs
Swiss total Exports to the Arab World by Country 2014: million Swiss Francs
Source of data: Swiss customs
Swiss total Exports to the Arab World 2014: (Portion of total exports)
Source of data: Swiss customs
Swiss Total Imports from the Arab world by country 2014: Swiss francs
Source: Swiss customs
Swiss Total Imports from the Arab world 2014 (Portion of the total imports)
Source: Swiss customs
Swiss exports/imports with the Arab world (Million CHF)
Source: Swiss customs
Swiss main exports to the Arab world 2014 (CHF)
Swiss main Imports from the Arab world 2014
Source: Swiss customs
Swiss Exports to the Arab world by commodity comparaisons between the Arab countries
Swiss Imports from the Arab world by commodity comparaisons between the Arab countries
