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What are some promising markets in the New Year?
The U.S., Japan, even Europe will grow, the latter albeit only one percent, while the big emerging markets will sparkle less than before. Keep an eye on and even consider targeting some high growth but off the beaten track markets.
Cheap money, cheap shale oil and low inflation will help the U.S. get some of its mojo back. And if even one of the big trade agreements now in negotiations gets the green light, it will be time to break out the bubbly. If both are approved, there should be enough oomph in the domestic economy to fire up consumer demand and increase imports. It will take awhile, so hang in.
Some pundits worry that the housing market, a key driver of the economy, will never return to the dizzying heights of the 1980's, mainly because the population has aged, immigration has slowed, and bubbles have been blown away from the policy froth. For trade to take up the slack, regardless of how many trade agreements are inked, is wishful thinking.
Not to worry too much. At 2.6 percent GDP growth in 2014, the U.S. will continue to be the world's number one importer and exporter (the sum of goods and services).
China will adjust to more modest if still rapid growth, with more domestic consumption and, hopefully, more imports including ecommerce purchases, which will make WPG members smile. Bureaucrats steadfastly throw up barriers to a more open domestic market, most recently deflecting demands by trading partners to lower tariffs on a range of IT products. But external pressure does work, and look for that to continue, as internally generated pressure slowly lifts the dead hand of protectionism.
Now’s the time to consider some second tier markets with decent future growth. Nigeria’s GDP growth will be close to 7 percent. With a large population and growing middle class, the country will be spending more on infrastructure and support for the private sector. Nigeria will remain scam central, but you can reduce that risk to almost nil by vetting customers and partners through your government representative in Abuja or Lagos. English is widely spoken
Iraq will probably grow 8.5 percent but could approach 10 percent, depending on the size of foreign investment, which as usual will flow mostly to the oil and gas sector. Security will remain a problem, and those wishing to do business there are better off meeting customers at international trade shows or in nearby Jordan, which will grow mush slower but remain stable.
We also like Cote d'Voire in West Africa, with growth close to 8 percent. The government is hosting an investment conference in the commercial center of Abidjan, and you should attend if you have a spare $6000. http://ici2014.com/en/conference-launch-of-the-2014-invest-in-cote-divoire-forum-ici-2014/
Like other resource rich African states, Cote d'Voire will experience first a boom in the extractive industry sector, followed by more robust consumer and government spending as the West African francs trickle down. With 60 percent youth unemployment, the government is under intense pressure to deliver jobs. A hammer or a computer in the hand of a youth is better than a rifle, as Ivorians learned during a painful civil war, which ended just a few years ago.
WPG was enthralled during a visit there earlier in the year. The government is competent and by African standards relatively honest. Here is an earlier blog in case you missed it the first time. https://www.webportglobal.com/en-US/Blog-Community/International-Trade-and-Global-Business/March-2013/First-impressions-Cote-d-Ivoire-%28Ivory-Coast%29
Other countries to consider, along with projected GDP growth, are:
Vietnam 5.5
Peru 6.0
Chile 5.0
Philippines 6.6
Mongolia 15.3
Still too tepid? Then try South Sudan, the new country carved out of its bigger neighbor. Considerable and accessible oil deposits are attracting investment. The result is growth surpassing anywhere else on the planet: 35 percent.
| Product Model | Inside Diameter | Outside Diameter | Thickness |
| LBBR16 bearing | 16 | 24 | 30 |
| LBBR14 bearing | 14 | 21 | 28 |