Sector - Political Risk
New dawn
Foreign investors hope for a period of stability in Ukraine, writes Julian Evans.
Holding on
Egypt has so far proven remarkably resilient in the face of the credit crunch. But it faces serious challenges in its near-term future, writes Julian Evans.
BTA and former management battle in UK court
A controversial legal case sees BTA, the nationalised Kazakh bank, face off with ex-bosses. Julian Evans reports.
Batman promises to clean up the streets
The newly-elected prime minister of Bulgaria, a former bodyguard nick-named ‘Batman’, has promised to fight crime in Bulgaria and get the country back on track to EU accession, writes Philip De Leon.
Libya - prospects hampered by mixed messages
Despite Libya’s growing internationalisation as being a reasonably stable, tolerate and welcoming environment for investment, a reputation that is bolstered by a variety of customs duties and tax breaks for large projects, some UK investors are not short of criticism about the country’s lack of transparency and at times ambiguous and conflicting announcements from Libya’s key decision and policy makers. These issues, among others, were at times hotly debated at the Middle East Association’s Libya conference held in London on July 23.
Macedonia issues €175mn Eurobond
On July 1, the republic of Macedonia has issued a fixed-rate €175mn Eurobond with a 9.875% coupon which matures in 2013. The money is said to finance the country’s budget gap and prop up the currency.
Europe cuts support for US$32bn project in Turkey
European financing for a hydroelectric plant in Turkey was suspended on July 7 after Turkey failed to offer environmental protections in the area around the Tigris River where antiques from the Middle Ages will be flooded by the dam.
Syria looks to PPP to build airport, motorways
Syria hopes to attract FDI into the country via privatisations and public-private partnerships, says a source at the IFC.
Zuma pledges policy continuity, job creation
As South Africa enters its first economic recession for 17 years, analysts and investors watched closely as new president Jacob Zuma laid out his policies in his inaugural state of the union address.
Gabon's long-serving president dies
Omar Bongo, Gabon's longest serving president, has died of a heart attack on June 8 in a Spanish hospital at the age of 73. He had been president of the African nation since 1967. He is said to have stopped work in May, checking into a clinic in Barcelona, with reports claiming that he had cancer.
From Russia with leverage
The Russian distressed debt market presents some great opportunities for those investors with an appetite for risk, reports Julian Evans.
Picking up the pieces
African states and banks have provided Zimbabwe with more than US$1bn in trade credit lines. Support from regional bodies has provided a much-needed injection of cash, but in the absence of long-term financing or western loan packages, the country is still far from recovery, writes Shannon Manders.
Investors climb aboard Tadawul
In August 2008, the Saudi Arabian stock market finally opened up to foreign investors. After a slow start, volumes are now tripling monthly, and investment banks are racing into the country to position themselves in the new market.
He came, he spoke. He conquered?
President Obama’s speech in Cairo University in early June has been hailed as a milestone in the US’s relations with the Middle East. Here, we present edited highlights of the speech, and some reactions to it in the west, Israel, and the Muslim world.
Slow liberalisation in neighbouring Syria
Lebanon’s destiny has often been closely interwoven with that of its larger neighbour, Syria. Indeed, for 15 years, from the end of the civil war until 2005, the Syrian government would simply hand over to the Lebanese prime minister a list of which ministers it wanted in the Lebanese government, according to some reports.
Singapore - October 5-6, 2010
2nd Annual Asia Trade & Export Finance Conference
London - November 3-4, 2010
2nd Annual West Africa Trade & Commodity Finance Conference
Cairo - November 10-11, 2010
3rd Annual North Africa Trade & Investment Conference
Gothenburg - November 18, 2010
3rd Annual Nordic Region Trade & Export Finance Forum
Dubai - February 15-16, 2011
8th Annual Middle East Trade & Export Finance Conference
