1. From Crisis to Recovery In A Multi-Polar World IMF Regional Economic Outlook October 2010 Dr. Nasser Saidi, Chief Economist & Head of External Relations, DIFC Authority 24 th October 2010

2. Agenda Decoupling: Moving ahead, but @ different speeds Increasing links with Asia: Trade & Financial Linkages New Economic Geography Necessitates Policy Reforms

3. Decoupling: Back to the Forefront The Oct 2010 WEO forecasts emerging market economies (EMEs) to grow at 7.1% compared to advanced economies 2.7%. Business cycles are becoming more closely linked intra industrial countries & EMEs. However, there is a decoupling of business cycles b/n the two groups (Kose, Otrok & Prasad, 2008). Decoupling has resulted from increased trade & financial flows between EMEs. Stylised facts on EMEs: Fiscal consolidation + financial sector reforms in years preceding the crisis contributed to resilience to the Great Recession Felt the effects of the global crisis later than the advanced economies, but have also recovered more sharply. By 2030, Asian GDP is expected to exceed that of the G7 major industrial economies. Source: IMF WEO, Oct 2010, Llaudes et.al (2010)

4. Increasing Links with Asia Asia now accounts for about a third of the global economy, up from under just a fifth in 1980. Emerging Asia’s share of world trade has doubled and of world GDP tripled in the past two decades. On current trends, Asia will be about 50% larger than it is today (in purchasing-power-parity terms) and could be as large as the US and the EU combined by 2015. Post-crisis recovery in Asia is driven by two engines: exports and strong domestic demand. Strong domestic demand reflects in part policy stimulus, but resilient private demand is also a factor. GCC/ME recovery dependent on region’s strong Trade & Financial linkages with Asia Source: IMF WEO Oct 2010, DIFC Economics, Singh (2010): “Asia Leading the Way”, Finance & Development, March 2010

5. GCC Increasing Links with Asia: Trade Crisis led to sharp downturns in the more export-oriented economies of Asia But, recent data (H1-2010) suggest that GCC-Asia trade has bounced back to pre- crisis levels (Q3 2008). Asia is currently the GCC’s largest trade partner in exports (23.5% of total GCC trade); Asia is second trade partner (26.3%) to EU (28%) in GCC imports. Within Asia, India and China have the largest share of trade with the GCC. Gulf countries increasingly integrated into Asia global supply chain: e.g. oil, gas, aluminum Increasingly important role of infrastructure & trade logistics in increasing connectedness & growing intra-industry trade Source: IMF DOTS, DIFC Economics

6. Major Trading Partners of the GCC - Exports Asia’s rising share in exports Source: IMF DOTS, DIFC Economics

7. Major Trading Partners of the GCC - Imports Source: IMF DOTS, DIFC Economics GCC’s Major Import Partners – the EU and Asia dominate

8. Composition of World Equity Markets: 1999-2010 Source: S&P, as of Sep 2010

9. MENA needs to grow intra-industry trade & link with Asia Grubel Lloyd Index of Intra-Industry Trade by Area

10. Policy Reform I: Re-Orient Trade & Investment Policies GCC/ME should re-orient Trade, Investment & Financial linkages towards Asia: Free Trade & Investment Agreements with China, India, ASEAN Chiang Mai Agreement Strengthen financial linkages by: Linking Stock Exchanges Integrating Payment systems Regulatory & Supervisory Agreements: e.g. DFSA MRA with Malaysia DIFC signed MOU with Hong Kong Monetary Authority and currently in the process of developing close relations with major financial centres with EMEs in Asia, Africa. LATAM Move towards a ‘spider-web’ of financial markets away from ‘hub-spoke’ model

11. MENA capital markets are dominated by bank assets and equities: Debt securities make up just 11.1% of Middle Eastern capital markets (GFSR Oct ’10) Limited Monetary policy effectiveness in restoring credit growth Financial Sector Development should be a policy priority : focus on SMEs, FOEs Build local debt markets to partially offset bank deleveraging, liquidity constraints & fill funding gaps Source: IMF GFSR Oct 2010 Policy Reforms II – Develop LC financial markets Local currency financial markets development: Enable monetary policy: provide CBs with a market to conduct OMOs & control liquidity Government Debt: Diminish macroeconomic and financial vulnerability from energy price fluctuations Finance infrastructure and development projects in the region Corporate Debt: Well-functioning debt markets will reduce dependence on bank finance Mortgage Markets: cornerstone of housing finance

12. Expansionary Fiscal Policies: What next? Source: IMF REO Oct 2010, Oct 2008 Reserve accumulation -> countercyclical spending (expansionary fiscal policies) -> mitigated crisis impact on own economies & generated positive spillovers for their neighbors. In 2009, KSA announced plans to spend $400bn on infrastructure over a 5-yr period. 2010 budget gov’t expenditure was placed at $144bn – increased spending on infrastructure, education & health. In the UAE’s 2010 budget, 49% of total government spending (AED17.45 bn) was allocated to economic sector, infrastructure and transportation. Upward shift in Break-Even Oil Prices

13. Policy Reforms III: Rev. Diversification + Pvt Sec Participation Fiscal stimulus/counter-cyclical spending => major driver of recovery But: Increase in Structural Non-Oil Deficits Economic diversification dependent on increased private participation by SMEs and FOEs Policy reforms required including: Fiscal policy focus on non-oil deficits Review distorting fuel subsidies Revenue diversification: GCC-wide VAT Decrease Cost of Doing Business; Attract private sector participation; Infrastructure development (through PPPs). Source: IMF REO, Oct 2010

14. Policy Reforms IV: Structural Reforms Source: Doing Business 2010, World Bank. The WB Doing Business 2010 report highlights UAE as one of the top 10 reformers. Overall global ranking of UAE has improved to 33 in 2010 from 47 in 2009’s report. The amendment and reform of the UAE Company law was a major economic policy reform measure helping to: Lower the cost of doing business; Provide incentives for new company formation and registration –particularly SME sector; Improve the overall investment climate. Across MENA/GCC deeper structural reform measures are necessary to stimulate new business: Aiming at better enforcement of contracts; Reforming Insolvency law; Aim at easing both entry and exit of businesses (by reducing cost and minimizing uncertainty).

15. Summing Up: Policy Priorities to sustain recovery New Silk Road requires shift in trade, investment & financial policies towards Asia and EMEs Engage in design of new International Financial Architecture, Policy & Regulation Develop Local Currency Financial Markets Access to Finance for SMEs & FOEs Fiscal Reform: Revenue diversification/ Expenditure rationalisation Increased Private Sector Participation Infrastructure Development through Public-Private Partnerships Insolvency/ Bankruptcy & Creditor Rights frameworks

16. Thank You!