Market conditions

With a rapidly maturing market—corners of which are already growing by double digits year on year—you’ll be hard pressed to find a consultant in Africa who doubts the continent’s long-term potential. But those actually living and working on the ground often find they have an uphill task in convincing their bosses back home to make the investments that will have them in pole position when that promised future finally arrives.

I’ve recently returned from Singapore, where, braving the poisonous smog, I was fortunate enough to interview a wide range of  consulting firms about the South East Asian consulting market. Our report on the South-East Asian market will be out soon but in advance of publication I thought it was worth shining a light on what seemed to me, to be some striking parallels between the South East Asian and GCC markets, and the opportunities and challenges that consulting firms operating in them are facing.

By Alison Huntington

Ouch. Much like waking up with a pounding headache after a big night out, the Brazilian economy is suffering the after-effects of its long binge on credit, high commodity prices, and domestic consumption. The formula that felt so good at the time papered over deeper structural issues in the economy—issues that are now headline news. The country’s credit status is junk, commodity prices are low, and ordinary Brazilians are cutting back on spending as they feel the pinch.