World Bank: Agriculture leads poverty reduction
There is enormous agricultural potential in many parts of Africa. All the necessary natural conditions – good soils and climate, plenty of land and water – are present in many countries. There is no reason why Africa cannot be a major producer of agricultural products on a scale equal to that of South America. But […]
“We used the crisis to optimise”
The credit crisis took a wrecking ball to the balance sheets of many global banks. Not Saxo Bank. This feat marked the bank out. This Denmark-based operation now has a hugely expanding geographic footprint and its distinctively outspoken CEO is not shy of challenging the traditional big players – as well as the perceptions of […]
Investors eye T’s & C’s
If you think you’d like to extend your Turks & Caicos vacation — perhaps permanently —you’ll join the ranks of visitors turned expatriates, who have chosen to do business, retire or enjoy a second home in idyllic surroundings. In the Turks & Caicos Islands (TCI), you’ll enjoy the sea and sand at your front door […]
Indian infrastructure set for double digit growth
The Indian economy is the 10th largest in the world and has the 4th largest GDP in terms of purchasing power parity. The economic growth of this country has been the second fastest during the current decade of the 21st Century. The GDP growth has been nine percent during 2006-08 and has shown tremendous resilience […]
Ports gain in pro-business market
Deemed one of the most prestigious projects in the Sultanate of Oman, the Port boasts the four largest shipping lines. Business is booming. Both its terminals saw double digit growth in the past five years, with general cargo growing at over 20 percent per annum, despite the onset of the recession. We spoke to the […]
Vatican praises ‘ethical’ Sharia banking
Haitham Abdou, director of marketing and product strategy for the ITS group, the biggest supplier of Islamic banking solutions in the world, confessed he was shocked to read Pope Benedict praising Islam’s bankers in the pages of the official Vatican newspaper. However, Abdou said, the article convinced him that Islamic banking is now ready for […]
China shifts outbound investment focus
In China, FDI policy has shifted from inbound to outbound investment. Furthermore, outbound investment is migrating up the value chain from resources through knowledge-based industries. China’s huge financial resources provide a sound foundation which needs to be supplemented with information and tools to assist Chinese companies to make objective investment decisions. Everyone is aware of […]
New legislation strengthens tax
Brazilian transfer pricing legislation, in force since January 1997, has been changed to help businesses reduce the risk of tax contingencies; improve the management of its rules; reduce duplicate taxation; and optimise tax impacts through mechanisms of control of the strengths and weaknesses of the risks and opportunities related to it. This legislation stipulates […]
Gruma meets expansion targets
In 2011, GRUMA will likely face various challenges. Thanks to the company’s preparation – much as in previous years – its strategic business approach will allow it to move forward with great success. The Mexican multinational, with 93 plants strategically located to sell its products in 102 countries throughout America, Europe, Asia and Oceania, is […]
IB competition grows in MENA
Among MENA investment banks, Jadwa Investment stands out for achieving strong growth despite challenging market conditions. Launched in 2007, Jadwa has been profitable for each of the last three years, and has grown assets under management by 13 times, from less than $150m in June 2007 to more than $1.9bn in October 2010, at a […]
