East Caribbean Businessforecast Industry Forecast

The East Caribbean Business Forecast Report provides essential macroeconomic, political and financial analysis for companies doing business in the East Caribbean. The East Caribbean Business Forecast Report helps businesses with East Caribbean market assessment, strategic planning and decision making to promote growth and profitability in the East Caribbean and is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in this emerging market.

An influential new analysis of the East Caribbean's political, economic and financial prospects through end-2012, just published by award-winning forecasters, Business Monitor International.

 

 

 

Key Uses of the East Caribbean Business Forecast Report | The East Caribbean's Political Outlook | The East Caribbean's Economic Outlook | The East Caribbean's Business Environment | Key East Caribbean Industry Sectors | The East Caribbean BMI's Executive Summary | Our North and South America Subscribers | Full Range of BMI's Business Forecast Reports

Key Uses for the East Caribbean Business Forecast Report

  • Forecast the pace and stability of the East Caribbean's economic and industry growth through end-2012
  • Identify and evaluate adverse political and economic trends in the East Caribbean, to facilitate risk mitigation strategies
  • Assess critical shortcomings of the East Caribbean's business environment that pose hidden barriers and costs to corporate profitability
  • Contextualise the East Caribbean's country risks against North and South America regional peers using BMI's country comparative risk ratings system
  • Target business opportunities in the East Caribbean's high-growth industry sectors
  • Evaluate external threats to doing business in the East Caribbean, including currency volatility, the commodity price boom and protectionist policies

The East Caribbean Business Forecast Report by Business Monitor International includes four major sections: the East Caribbean's Political Outlook, the East Caribbean's Economic Outlook, the East Caribbean's Business Environment and the East Caribbean's Key Industry Sectors.

The East Caribbean's Political Outlook:

What are the political risks to doing business in the East Caribbean over the next 5 years?

BMI's East Caribbean Country Risk Ratings evaluate the short and medium-term threats posed by government instability, adverse economic policy-making, deterioration in the business environment and external shocks.

the East Caribbean Political Outlook Contents

  • SWOT Analysis for the East Caribbean Market
    Political Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats facing the East Caribbean.
  • Political Stability and Risk Assessment for the East Caribbean
    BMI's Risk Ratings assess explicit short and long-term risks to political stability; latest ratings, rankings and trends for the East Caribbean's risk are compared with North and South America regional and global averages.
  • Current Administration and Policy-making in the East Caribbean
    BMI profiles key policy-makers and power-brokers in the East Caribbean government, assessing threats to the continuity of East Caribbean economic policy, and likely changes to the business operating environment through end-2012.
  • East Caribbean Foreign Policy
    BMI examines key trends and shifts in the East Caribbean's foreign relations and alignments with North and South America neighbours, the United States and Europe, focusing on external influences.

Key Benefits

  1. Benchmark the East Caribbean's risk profile against its neighbours, the global and regional average, allowing easy comparison of risks between key business markets.
  2. Identify, evaluate and anticipate political and security risks to the business environment in the East Caribbean, and to your company's current operations and future plans.
  3. Gain valuable insights into the East Caribbean government and policy-making, through BMI's specialist team of analysts and economists, and their exclusive network of private and public sector sources.

The East Caribbean's Economic Outlook:

How will East Caribbean economic policy-making and performance impact corporate profitability over 2008-12?

BMI provides fully independent 5-year forecasts for the East Caribbean through end-2012 for more than 35 macroeconomic variables. We evaluate East Caribbean growth, and also forecast the impact of economic management, including central bank policy, on profitability.

the East Caribbean Economic Outlook Contents

The East Caribbean Business Forecast Report features explicit BMI economic forecasts for the East Caribbean, with supporting commentary and analysis, for end-2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012 set against East Caribbean government views. Underpinning our East Caribbean forecasts are key assumptions for the global economy through end-2012, covering growth, inflation, employment, trade and investment, interest and exchange rates in the US, Japan and the Euro-zone.

Coverage of Key Economic Issues in the East Caribbean

  • Economic Activity in the East Caribbean
    Real GDP growth; industrial growth; employment growth; inflation and consumer prices; consumption (indicative wages, retail sales, consumer confidence)
  • Fiscal Policy in the East Caribbean
    Current macroeconomic strategy and implementation policies; government finance (revenue, expenditure, budget balance); tax reforms
  • Monetary Policy in the East Caribbean
    Interest rate trends (bank lending and deposit rates); inflation (retail price inflation, consumer price inflation); exchange rate policy in the East Caribbean; East Caribbean currency controls; influence of foreign direct investment inflows; exchange rates and foreign exchange reserves
  • Balance of Payments in the East Caribbean
    Merchandise trade (exports, imports, trade balance); current account balance
  • Foreign Direct Investment in the East Caribbean
    Foreign direct investment approvals and inflows; the foreign investment climate
  • East Caribbean External Debt
    Debt profile (short- and long-term debt; public and private sector exposure)

Key Benefits

  1. Rely upon BMI's 100% independent Forecast Scenarios for the East Caribbean and underlying assumptions - we take no advertising and are privately-owned.
  2. Exploit the benefits of BMI's comprehensive and reliable macroeconomic the East Caribbean database, sourced and fully maintained by BMI from an extensive network of private sector, government and multilateral contacts.
  3. Gain key insights into the current and future direction of East Caribbean government economic policy

The East Caribbean's Business Environment:

How internationally competitive is the East Caribbean's regulatory environment, and what changes can be expected?

BMI assesses levels of transparency, flexibility of labour market, tax burden, development of the banking sector and credit availability, infrastructure and IT, foreign investment regime and trade liberalisation in the East Caribbean.

the East Caribbean Business Environment Contents

  • the East Caribbean's Business Environment Risk Rating with SWOT Analysis
    Short and long-term business environment risk ratings for the East Caribbean, benchmarked against ratings for North and South America and neighbouring countries.
  • Country Competitiveness for the East Caribbean
    Competitiveness of the East Caribbean's business operating environment in supporting corporate growth and profitability over the 5-year forecast horizon, compared with regional neighbours.

Coverage of Key Business Environment Issues in the East Caribbean's Domestic Environment

Transparency, cronyism and corruption; labour market flexibility; corporate tax burden; interest rate levels; access of private sector to lines of credit; sophistication of banking sector and stock market; levels of business confidence; infrastructure and IT

  • Foreign Direct Investment in the East Caribbean
    Analysis of foreign investment regime, foreign ownership laws; attractiveness of business environment to foreign investors; review of major foreign direct investments over the last 24 months, and of strategic sectors attracting most interest
  • Foreign Trade with the East Caribbean
    Analysis of trading environment, government trade policy, liberalisation measures, tariffs and membership of trade areas

The East Caribbean's Key Industry Sectors

Which industry sectors in the East Caribbean will grow fastest, and where are the major investment opportunities in the East Caribbean market?

BMI targets investment opportunities in the East Caribbean's high growth industries, including automotives, food and drink, infrastructure, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals and healthcare, telecommunications and IT.

Coverage of the East Caribbean's Key Industry Sectors - East Caribbean Market Overview

Size, value and structure of industry; impact of liberalisation and privatisation on sector performance and prospects; friendliness of business environment

  • Latest Developments in the East Caribbean
    Review of latest projects, deals, privatisations, mergers and acquisitions, and implications for sector performance; company rankings for national and multinational companies in the East Caribbean; main industry players by local sales, employee size, market share and main brands, products and services
  • 5-year Industry Forecast for the East Caribbean
    Historic dataset (2003-2007) and BMI forecasts through end-2012, covering headline industry data broken out by sub sector

Key Benefits

  1. Target strategic sector-by-sector opportunities in the East Caribbean's high growth industries, attracting public expenditure and foreign investment; identify key players and competitors driving growth, investment and business opportunities.
  2. Benefit from competitive intelligence on top national and multinational companies operating in the East Caribbean's major industry sectors, including analysis of recent trends in sales and market share, company strategies, product launches and latest deals.

Who buys the North and South America Business Forecast Reports?

The East Caribbean Business Forecast Report is an essential tool for CEOs, Chairmen, Finance Directors/CFOs, Managing Directors, Marketing/Sales Directors with commercial interests in the East Caribbean.

Our Business Forecast Reports are relied upon by corporates, banks, government departments and multinational organisations around the world.

Business Monitor International's Business Forecast Report subscribers include:

ABB Mexico, SA de CV, American Express Argentina, American Honda Motor Co Inc, Ansa Technologies Ltd, Antigua Commercial Bank, ATCO Structures Inc, Atlas Copco Chilena, Banco de Mexico, BASF Interservicios SA de CV, Bristol Myers Squibb, Carl Zeiss de Mexico SA de CV, Chrysler LLC, Coca-Cola Servicios de Colombia, Colgate-Palmolive CA, Glaxosmithkline Chile Ltda, Hyatt International, Lafarge SA, Levi Strauss Mexico, Merck SA, Merrill Lynch - Brazil, Siemens S.A. de C.V., Sony Ericsson, Standard Chartered Bank, Unilever Caribbean, West Indies Oil Company 

 

" The Economic Risk Rating section of the Business Forecast Report is most valuable because we need to know the financial pros and cons of our investments within a given period of time. "
President, Distribuidora de Alimentos MGA SA de CV, Mexico.

BMI's Executive Summary for the East Caribbean

[TOP]

BLP On The Attack

According to local reports, the ruling Barbados Labour Party (BLP) could be gearing up for a snap general election. With a general election constitutionally due before August 2008, Prime Minister Owen Arthur could be tempted into calling a mid-December ballot – a victory in which would give the premier an unprecedented fourth consecutive term in office. Ostensibly at least, the government is moving in to election mode. At the latest BLP conference, Energy Minister Elizabeth Thompson commended the government for keeping the economy vibrant, reducing the rate of unemployment and providing a higher quality of life. Meanwhile, Finance Minister Clyde Mascoll asserted that the state of the local economy would not be an issue during the forthcoming election because foreign reserves are now at their highest level ever.

While Arthur and the BLP remain favourites for re-election, recent developments should act as a warning against complacency. Firstly, the government has come in for criticism due to the relative failings of the Cricket World Cup in March 2007. The competition did not manage to generate an anticipated 'feel good factor' amongst the public, which Arthur had hoped would make his election triumph a certainty. And while Arthur's popular standing is considerably above that of opposition Democratic Labour Party (DLP) leader David Thompson, a recent CADRES survey suggests that 45% of Barbadians desire a change of government. While Caribbean polls are notoriously volatile – especially as speculation over a potential election date runs rife – these findings should give the BLP some food for thought, especially given that a two-thirds majority is required for major reform.

Having said that, an Arthur victory remains the most likely scenario, which would guarantee continued political stability over the forecast period. Policy continuity has played a large part in achieving sustainable economic growth in recent years. The country has one of the largest per capita incomes in the region, ranks high on international social, political, and competitiveness indicators, and enjoys an investment grade rating. Indeed, Barbados scores 78.8 and 78.3 in our short-term and long-term political risk ratings respectively – an outstanding result given that the election deadline is edging ever closer. In particular, it performs well in the 'policy-making process' and 'characteristics of polity' categories due to the excellent regulation and supervision of local institutions.

Read about our other Business Forecast Reports  

Asia

Australia, Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Europe

Bosnia & Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Caucasus, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan & Central Asia, Latvia, Lithuania, Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Ukraine

Middle East and Africa

Angola, Bahrain, Botswana, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Egypt, Ethiopia, Francophone West Africa, Ghana, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Lebanon & Syria, Kenya, Kuwait, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, North Africa, Oman & Yemen, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Turkey, UAE, Uganda, Zambia, Zimbabwe

North & South America

Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, East Caribbean, Mexico, Peru, Trinidad & Tobago, Venezuela, West Caribbean

 

Business Monitor International

Business Monitor International
A Market Leader in Country Risk, Industry Intelligence and Company Research

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BUSINESS MONITOR INTERNATIONAL's country risk analysis and forecasts, market research on leading industries, and multinational company research is relied upon by corporates, banks, government departments and multilateral organisations in over 125 countries around the world.

Country Risk Analysis and Forecasts
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has for 25 years specialised in political risk analysis, financial markets analysis, and macroeconomic forecasts on 175 global markets.

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BMI's industry research covers Automotives; Banking; Chemicals; Defence & Security; Food & Drink; Freight Transport; Information Technology; Infrastructure; Insurance; Mining; Oil & Gas; Petrochemicals; Pharmaceuticals & Healthcare; Power; Telecommunications, and Tourism.

Company Research
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