The outlook for the global economy is worsening. Growth in all regions will continue to decelerate for the remainder of this year and, for most economies, is not expected to pick up again until 2021.
Even this stark assessment-our central scenario-comes with considerable downside risks stemming from increasing rivalry between the US and China, growing geopolitical uncertainty, and financial vulnerabilities in major economies. The US-China trade conflict, which is more about technology than it is about trade, risks morphing into a full-blown global trade war which would have major knock-on effects for inflation, business sentiment, consumer sentiment and, ultimately, global economic growth.
World trade is forecast to grow by 2.9% in 2020, down from 3.1% this year, and 4.4% in 2018. The Middle East sits - both geographically and logistically - in the centre of this trade bifurcation. Its countries and companies will face a choice of whether to turn East or West for their next opportunities. And optimising these trade and diplomatic choices will require strategic and tactical insight.
So, at this critical juncture for the global and regional economies, The ECN MENA Annual Conference will incorporate a Regional Strategic Forecast from the Economist Intelligence Unit, delivered by our Global Forecasting Director Agathe Demarais, who will focus on:
One of the major challenges for the leadership teams of businesses operating in the Middle East is the attraction and retention of talent, so we will also explore the significant talent trends in the region, especially in the context of digital transformation
We hope you will be able to join us for this important event.
Please note that this event is limited to senior-level executives and per invitation only. If you are not an existing member of The Economist Corporate Network, but would like to learn how you can attend our events, please send an email to ecn_me@economist.com.