EIU report: Western banks expect to develop their asset management operations in Middle East (page 2 of 2)

Despite progress in areas such as the regulatory and business environment, respondents point to a number of deterrents to further investment in the region. Concerns about the geopolitical environment remain high on the agenda for many in the sector, with 71% citing this as significant. A lack of transparency and poor standards of the regulatory regime are also raised as an issue, with 65% citing these as deterrents to investment.

For further information or a copy of the report please contact:

Economist Intelligence Unit, press liaison:
Joanne McKenna +44 (0)20 7576 8188

About the report
Asset management in the Middle East: The prospects for global financial institutions is an Economist Intelligence Unit white paper, sponsored by the Qatar Financial Centre (QFC) Authority. The aim of this report is to assess the appetite among western financial services firms for setting up or expanding asset management operations in the Middle East, to explore the current risks and opportunities that are available to these firms, and to examine the economic and legislative trends that form the backdrop to their engagement in the region. The Economist Intelligence Unit's editorial team conducted the interviews on which the analysis is based and wrote the report. The survey consisted of 180 senior executives of financial services firms from around the world who either already invest or are planning to invest in an asset management business the region.

About the Economist Intelligence Unit
The Economist Intelligence Unit is the world leader in global business intelligence. It is the business-to-business arm of The Economist Group, which publishes The Economist newspaper.

The Economist Intelligence Unit provides geopolitical, economic and business analysis on more than 200 countries, as well as strategic intelligence on key industries and management practices. With over 300 full-time professionals in 40 offices around the world, supported by a global network of more than 700 contributing analysts, the Economist Intelligence Unit is widely known for its unparalleled coverage of major and emerging markets.