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GCC
Economic & Banking system outlook &
Trade Finance Capabilities
September 2013
Frank Haak, Transaction Bank Group
BNP Paribas Fortis
Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
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GCC Outlook
• elevated public spending - forecast to rise 6-7 % in 2013-2014
• improving private sector conditions
• overall economic growth 4 % (non-oil 6 %) in 2013-1H2014
• GCC inflation remains low at 2-3 % in 2013-2014
• fiscal surplus decline from 12 % of GDP in 2012 to 5 % in 2014
• GCC needs to address job creation & fiscal reforms
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Country by country
Bahrain
- Restored oil output & high government spending to drive faster growth
- GDP growth forecasts: 4.6 % in 2013 - 3.8 % in 2014
- Budget deficit to widen further
Kuwait
- Growth supported by strong consumer sector – high oil revenues – hope for improvement in execution of government projects
- GDP growth forecasts: 1.3 % in 2013 - 2.9 % in 2014
Oman
- Elevated levels of public spending – sectors like transport/trade/tourism perform very well
- GDP growth forecasts: 4.4 % in 2013 – 3.4 % in 2014
- Rapid population growth – job creation high on government’s agenda
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Country by country - continued
Qatar
- Robust non-hydrocarbon growth as a result of the government’s investment program (USD 200 billion development spendings)
- Rising rents drive inflation (forecasts 2013 => 3.4 % and 2014 => 4 %) / current account surplus reduction / fiscal space narrows
- GDP growth forecasts remain high: 5.7 % in 2013 – 6.2 % in 2014
Saudi Arabia
- Non-oil growth moderates – also government spending growth may be entering a softer phase… but will remain at solid levels
- Noticed the highest GDP growths of the GCC in 2012 (oil & non-oil)
- Inflation & budget surplus remain under control
UAE
- Further signs of economic recovery – took advantage of its ‘safe heaven’ status in the MENA region
- Strong trade ties with emerging markets in Asia – important role for the upcoming African markets
- Real estate sector in Dubai appears to have turned a corner with higher levels of buyer/investor interests
- GDP growth forecasts: 2.7 % in 2013 – 2.1 % in 2014
- Reduction in government bailout spending
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Saudi Arabia
1. Banking system:
 strong banking system – support authorities “systemic banks”
 Private sector credit growth eases but remains solid – liquid banking system
 L/C and L/G heavily used
2. BNP Paribas Fortis offers in trade:
 Confirmation of L/Cs and re-issuance of L/Gs on 15 banks (main players are
National Commercial Bank, Arab National Bank, Banque Saudi Fransi, Samba Bank, Riyad
Bank, Saudi British Bank, Saudi Hollandi Bank, Al Rahji Bank)
 open and silent confirmation
 all-in duration of 36 months - longer tenors case by case
 BNP Paribas has branch in Riyadh.
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Bahrain
1. Banking system:
two banking systems (local retail banks & offshore banks)
Banking system is recovering but political uncertainty has its impact
L/C and L/G heavily used
2. BNP Paribas Fortis offers in trade:
Confirmation of L/Cs and re-issuance of L/Gs on 7 banks (main banks: Ahli United
Bank, Arab Banking Corporation, Bank of Bahrain and Kuwait, Gulf International Bank, National
Bank of Bahrain)
open and silent confirmation
all-in duration of 36 months - longer duration case by case
BNP Paribas Bahrain branch is the hub for BNP Paribas’ network in the GCC
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Kuwait
1. Banking system:
banks have beside NPL also important amount of restructured loans (part of it
on investment companies and indirectly in real estate – takes time to digest…)
Credit growth improved, but softer than most other Gulf countries
L/C and L/G heavily used
2. BNP Paribas Fortis offers in trade:
Confirmation of L/Cs and re-issuance of L/Gs on 12 banks (main banks are
National Bank of Kuwait, Al Ahli Bank of Kuwait, Commercial Bank of Kuwait, Ahli United Bank,
Burgan Bank, Industrial Bank of Kuwait, Kuwait Finance House, Gulf Bank)
open and silent confirmation
all-in duration of 36 months - longer tenors case by case
BNP Paribas has branch in Kuwait
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Oman - Qatar
1. Banking system:
well capitalized/monitored banking systems
Public sector drives deposits and credit growth
Focus on liquidity management by financial authorities
2. BNP Paribas Fortis offers in trade:
Confirmation of L/Cs and re-issuance of L/Gs on 7 Omani (main banks in Oman are
Bank Muscat, National Bank of Oman, Oman International Bank, Bank Dhofar, Oman Arab
Bank) and 9 Qatari bank (main banks in Qatar are Commercial Bank of Qatar, Doha Bank,
Qatar National Bank, International Bank of Qatar, Ahli Bank QSC, Al Khalij Commercial Bank,
Qatar Islamic Bank, Qatar International Islamic Bank)
open and silent confirmation
all-in duration of 36 months - longer tenors case by case
BNP Paribas has branch in Qatar
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United Arab Emirates (UAE)
1. Banking system:
 Abu Dhabi based banks are better capitalized & government support is a fact
 some Dubai banks still have important restructured loans
 Bank lending remains weak & liquidity management high on the agenda
 Government issues tighter lending restrictions to prevent property market
speculation (lesson from the past)
2. BNP Paribas Fortis offers in trade:
 Confirmation of L/Cs & re-issuance of L/Gs on 20 UAE based banks
- main Abu Dhabi banks are National Bank of Abu Dhabi, Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank, First
Gulf Bank, Union National Bank
- main Dubai banks are Emirates-NBD Bank, Mashreq, Commercial Bank of Dubai
- main other Emirates based banks are National Bank of Fujairah, Bank of Sharjah, National
Bank of Umm Al Qaiwain, National Bank of Ras Al-Khaimah
 open/silent with all-in duration of 36 months - longer tenors case by case
 BNP Paribas has operations in UAE (Abu Dhabi, Dubai)
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Network of Trade Finance experts around the
world
 Dedicated sales force: more than 250
professionals addressing mainly 15,000 clients
 Global synergy across the bank’s entire
network.

Any import/export need with any GCC country can be handled by
BNP PARIBAS FORTIS
with thanks for your attention
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