Investment in MENA Equities
The MENA region is a diverse blend of countries that differ in size, economic conditions, social structure, political environment and state affairs. These variations are observed through incompatible level of private investment ratio in these countries. Among Middle East countries Saudi Arabia, Bahrain and United Arab Emirates are top investors in MENA equities. A survey by the Economist Intelligence Unit has shown that many western financial services corporations are interested to establish an organizational existence in the Middle East. An amalgamation of the development and steady economic reform in the Middle East has generated the interest among numerous western financial service firms. Over the last few years or so, big investors in the US and Europe are observed to develop a great interest in private equity investments in the Middle Eastern MENA equities. On the whole, this growing interest is making a great contribution to increase the Middle East finance ratio.
Countries in the Middle Eastern MENA region have initiated investment and economic reforms to increase the foreign and private investment in MENA equities. In these reforms, expatriates and foreign corporations are granted permission to acquire private equity in Middle Eastern MENA Equities. This decision of governments is followed by their need to grant employment to an increased number of labor forces and to offset increasing struggle from other rising markets in industry. Even though the ratio of foreign and private investment in this particular region has been recorded low during 1980s and 1990s, the new century has experienced an attractive increase in foreign investors as a result of increasing swiftness of the economic reforms and a decreasing role of the state in investment industry.
Numerous features have made great contribution to make the region an attractive place for international investors and corporations. Region offers a steady macroeconomic environment along with the reliable Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth and development in area of trade, particularly with regard to non-oil exports. For decades, Middle East finance and economy has been dependent on oil exports that have created some imbalances in the economy of the Middle Eastern countries. In order to address this imbalance, the region has made important conversion in economic policies by shifting from oil-oriented economy to investment policy.
Furthermore, structural modifications for example liberal investment policies, industrial diversification, concentration on substantial infrastructure growth and better incorporation with the developed markets have brought investors to the region. In addition, the region is estimated to recover the global economic recession quicker than the developed countries characterized by encouraging demographic conditions, built up money reserves, the existence of a strong banking system, bigger government expenditure and the mounting craving of investors for rising markets. According to research of The International Monetary Fund (IMF), the development in MENA region will be superior to the world standard during 2009 and 2014 for private equity in Middle East.
Gulf Bank, National Bank of Kuwait, Arab Bank for Investment, Arab Emirates Investment Bank Ltd., National Bank of Dubai, National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Real State Bank UAE are some top investment banks in Dubai, Kuwait, Abu Dhabi and other Middle Eastern parts.
About The Author:
Richard Burton is a seasoned finance banker, with expertise in regional corporate financing and offshore investments. The author resides in Kuwait, and has been writing articles for various industry magazines and blog post for a number of years.
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