From the CEO OF EMIS

I’ve been in Poland this week visiting our Warsaw team. Poland is where it all started for EMIS over 20 years ago so there is a special affinity with this market for our business. For the majority of those 20 years, Poland has been a model of stability when compared to other emerging markets. The country even managed to avoid recession during the global economic downturn, the only economy in Europe to do so. But recent political developments have created an air of uncertainty for those more used to a stable and predictable environment.
 

The populist and nationalist Law and Justice party triumphed in last year’s election and became the first to govern Poland alone since the fall of communism. They have quickly pushed through new legislation that can be viewed as weakening and constraining institutions like the media and judiciary. They have also raised taxes on the banking and retail sectors, prompting new worries for foreign investors.

Populist backlashes are to be expected in an era of general disenchantment with establishment politics. Just look at what’s happening in the US. The hope must be that more moderate voices are heard before Poland’s hard-won reputation for stability is undermined further and its pattern of economic growth begins to change.

Best wishes,

Guy Dunn
Chief Executive Officer

The first-ever power auctions were held in Mexico last month since the state energy monopoly, which lasted many decades, came to an end in 2013. Renewable energy providers won eleven packages of wind and solar project and certificates to start in 2018, according to Cesar Emiliano Hernandez, Mexico's deputy electricity minister. Adrian Escofet, president of the Asociacion Mexicana de Energia Eolica (Amdee) said that Mexico would be able to boast a total of 15,000 MW of wind-power by 2022.

POLISH PHARMACEUTICALS: DOCTOR'S ORDERS

The EUR 139 per capita annual expenditure on drugs in Poland remains one of the lowest in Europe, and so is the level of state reimbursement for drugs.

TURKEY ENERGY: POWER PLAY

Turkey plans to have an installed capacity of over 110,000 MW by 2023, up from the current 73,150 MW. The industry will need an investment of over USD 110bn.

Turkmenistan- Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) Pipeline Company signed a deal on Thursday to invest $200 million in studies and engineering works.

Japanese real-estate group Xymax has partnered with Robinsons Land Corp. (RLC) to cross-sell and offer hotel booking for the growing number of Filipino tourists in Japan.

The Indian government prohibits FDI in an inventory-based e-commerce model and marketplaces from offering heavy discounts or influencing prices to lure buyers.

BNamericas reported that Norwegian oil company Statoil kept the leading position as a top oil and gas producer in Brazil, taking into consideration only foreign companies.

US automotive seating and electrical distribution systems Lear Corporation will invest some $58 million in two plants in the Coahuila state, northern Mexico.

Latin American brewery Companhia de Bebidas das Américas (Ambev) is negotiating the acquisition of Brasil Kirin’s brewery, located in Cachoeiras do Macacu, RJ.

Azeri state-owned oil company SOCAR is considering acquisition of Turkish fuel retailer and mineral oils producer OMV Petrol Ofisi.

If the Hungarian Parliament approves on Tuesday a cabinet’s proposal to lift of a ban on Sunday trading for larger shops that could increase the country’s GDP growth.

Turkish citizens may travel visa-free to the European Union by June, the country's EU Minister Volkan Bozkir said Tuesday.

Africa’s second largest crude oil exporter Angola will start talks for a loan with the International Monetary Fund as low oil prices impact the state finances.

Read more…

The oil-rich countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council are likely to borrow between $285 billion and $390 billion to cover their budget gaps through 2020 caused by the low oil price.

Read more…

The volume of the UAE’s retail market is expected to reach AED 200 bn (US$ 54.4 bn) by 2017, according to the Dubai Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI).

EMIS operates in and reports on countries where high reward goes hand-in-hand with high risk. We bring you time-sensitive, hard-to-get, relevant news, research and analytical data, peer comparisons and more for over 120 emerging markets.

Read more

EMIS CHARTS uses selected data points from the subscription-based EMIS service, to provide you with an interactive overview of sectors, key players and macroeconomic trends across 120+ emerging markets and allows you to create your own charts.

Try it out now