On March 21, 2018, 44 African countries signed the African Union’s (AU) Continental Free Trade Agreement (ACFTA). The AU aims to use the ACFTA as a conduit for the creation of a single market and customs union on the African…
Distribution management in Egypt: Increase competitiveness with a capabilities-based approach
Egypt is committed to rebalancing its economy, through its IMF reform program, prioritizing infrastructure, energy, health and education development, and implementing business-friendly regulations. These reforms are structurally changing the business environment, and while this better positions Egypt for sustainable growth,…
Q2 2018: Business implications of heightened risk in MENA
Turkey and the MENA region are experiencing heightened political and economic volatility in Q2 2018, as FSG expected late last year. Headlines regarding Turkey’s tensions with Western countries and its economic vulnerability, Trump’s withdrawal from the Iran deal and the…
Navigating Import Restrictions in Algeria
The global business community is anxious over President Donald Trump’s new age of protectionism; however, for executives in Algeria protectionism is not a new phenomenon. For the past two years, MNCs in Algeria have been facing barriers to importing, like…
Business under Sisi’s second term: Manage three challenges to capture Egypt’s opportunities
Egypt’s 2018 presidential elections quietly came and went, with President el-Sisi securing 97% of the vote and a second term in office. For executives, the elections were reassurance of policy continuity and stability. During Sisi’s next four years, executives can…
Updates to FSG’s 2018 event-risk scenarios
Emerging markets provide unique challenges for executives, and contingency planning is one way to better navigate these waters. Since the November 1 publication of FSG’s 2018 Events to Watch report, our analysts have continued to monitor and update their scenario analysis. This…
The VAT: Implications beyond the GCC
January 1st was implementation day for the 5% VAT in Saudi Arabia and the UAE, with the rest of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) to follow in H2 2018 and 2019. The move is part of a wider reform program…