Stories - MarcoPolis

Bahrain Top Stories
The Bahraini Political Crisis: Reconciling the Narratives
Three major narratives compete for dominance in explaining Bahrain’s post-2011 political crisis: the narrative of foreign interference/instigation, the narrative of sectarian discrimination and conflict, and those who insist the sectarian narrative has been invented to divert attention away from a revolution of the entire- or at least most of- the population.

Lebanon Banking Lebanon Top Stories

Lebanon’s Central Bank forecast steady GDP growth amid continue Syrian strife and foundering local tourism sector

June 17, 2013

The Banque du Liban has projected real GDP growth in Lebanon at between 2 percent and 4 percent in 2013 amid an economy stalled by the continuing strife in neighboring Syria and the depressed tourism sector caused by the resulting security worries.

Lebanon Top Stories

Founder of Lebanon’s Nawaya Network NGO wins King Abdullah Award and $50,000 Grant

June 9, 2013

Zeina Saab, the Lebanese-American founder of The Nawaya Network, has won the King Abdullah Award for Youth Innovation and Achievement (KAAYIA). She was presented with the award by King Abdullah of Jordan at the Dead Sea during the recent meeting of the World Economic Forum held in Jordan.

Internet in Kurdistan Kurdistan Sector Analysis Kurdistan Telecom

Telecom and ICT Sector in Iraq and Kurdistan: Deployment of 4G LTE, IPOs and Other Developments

May 30, 2013

Autonomous Kurdistan has found itself with a comparative advantage in the telecoms department, with defacto faster Internet connections and consistent mobile service compared to the rest of federal Iraq.

Iraq Banking Kurdistan Sector Analysis

Iraq and Iraqi Kurdistan: Banking Sector Analysis

May 30, 2013

In a region of nearly five million citizens and hundreds of new business operations, banking experts refer to autonomous Kurdistan as “underbanked” and thus see opportunity in opening branches there or creating entirely new banks.

Libya Top Stories

Economic Recovery in Libya

May 28, 2013

Libya Top Stories
Economic Recovery in Libya
Given recent headlines, no one can now deny that Libya has been undergoing a complex transition that is hampered by the proliferation of armed groups with a multiplicity of political, economic, religious, regional, and ideological goals and objectives.

Libya Top Stories

Libya Reports Strong Economic Growth in 2012

May 25, 2013

Libya Top Stories
Libya Reports Strong Economic Growth in 2012
With the recovery in hydrocarbon exports, the fiscal and current account surpluses in 2013 are projected at 19.1% of GDP and 26.7%, respectively. Nevertheless, the increase in recurrent expenditures poses risks to fiscal sustainability.

Libya Top Stories

Positive Outlook for Libyan Economy: 9.6% Growth between 2013-2017

May 25, 2013

Libya Top Stories
Positive Outlook for Libyan Economy: 9.6% Growth between 2013-2017
The Libyan economy is expected to grow by an annual average of 9.6% in the period between 2013 and 2017.

Lebanon Top Stories

Consumer Confidence in Lebanon at Near Summer Low

April 15, 2013

After consumer confidence in the economy hit a near all-time low this summer as Lebanon entered a recession, 2012 wrapped up with confidence near the earlier low after a brief fall rebound.

Iraq Banking Kurdistan Sector Analysis

Islamic Banking in Iraq: A Growing Niche

March 29, 2013

As for Halal banking (Islamic Banking and Finance), We see prospectus for emergence and growth of Islamic finance and banking in Kurdistan in as much as the state is part of the larger Muslim MENA countries.