The swift and massive shock of the coronavirus pandemic and shutdown measures to contain it have plunged the global economy into a severe contraction. According to World Bank forecasts, the global economy will shrink by 5.2% this year.
World Bank
Global Growth: Modest Pickup to 2.5% in 2020
Global economic growth is forecast to edge up to 2.5% in 2020 as investment and trade gradually recover from last year’s significant weakness but downward risks persist, the World Bank says in its January 2020 Global Economic Prospects.
Horn of Africa countries launch regional initiative as peace dividend beckons, $15 billion investment on the cards
Five Horn of Africa countries have launched an initiative to forge closer economic ties, building on the improving political climate in the sub-region.
Governments Worldwide Launched 294 Reforms Over the Past Year to Make Doing Business Easier
Governments of 115 economies around the world launched 294 reforms over the past year to make doing business easier for their domestic private sector, paving the way for more jobs, expanded commercial activity, and higher incomes for many, according to the World Bank Group’s Doing Business 2020 study.
Debt Stocks of Developing Countries Rose to $7.8 Trillion in 2018
Total external debt of low- and middle-income countries climbed 5.3 percent to $7.8 trillion last year, while net debt flows (gross disbursements minus principal payments) from external creditors tumbled 28 percent to $529 billion, the World Bank’s International Debt Statistics 2020 shows.
Mini Grids for Half a Billion People: Market Outlook and Handbook for Decision Makers
Mini grids have the potential to provide electricity to as many as 500 million people by 2030, with the right policies and about $220 billion of investment to build around 210,000 mini grids.
Oil prices to be lower in 2019 on slower-than-expected global growth, rising non-OPEC supply
Crude oil prices are expected to average $66 a barrel in 2019 and $65 a barrel in 2020, a downward revision from the October forecast due to the weaker-than-expected global growth outlook and greater-than-anticipated U.S. production, the World Bank said.
