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Evidence suggests that Pakistan has the potential for much faster and more diversified economic growth. Energizing trade can help Pakistan to realize its growth potential. Pakistan's inward-oriented trade policies have had the effect of stalling Pakistan's integration into regional and global value chains (GVCs). Pakistan's failure to reform its trade policy to better foster export competitiveness can be attributed in part to institutional fragmentation within the government. This fragmentation has resulted in different agencies sometimes working at cross purposes. Efforts to reduce tariffs have been offset by the introduction of alternative protection instruments such as regulatory duties (RDs) and firm-specific special regulatory orders (SROs). In addition to tariffs, RDs and SROs, other obstacles to global integration include a heavy regulatory burden and perceived risks to investing and operating in the country, which have hurt efforts to attract foreign direct investment (FDI). Growth and competitiveness are also inhibited by inefficient trade facilitation policies, weak logistics services, and underdeveloped infrastructure. These constraints have made it difficult for Pakistan to fully exploit its proximity to China, a trade powerhouse, with which it has a free trade agreement. All in all, the anti-export bias of Pakistan's trade policy has made it more difficult for outward-looking firms to grow by accessing global markets. A series of actions in the areas of trade policy, trade facilitation and connectivity, and institutional coordination could potentially stimulate Pakistan's growth through increased trade and investment competitiveness. Integration with other countries in the region and neighboring regions, particularly East Asia, will allow Pakistan to diversify both its product basket and markets. Finally, full normalization of trade relations with India would allow Pakistan to benefit from India's fast growth and promote complementarities, including valuechain activities and investment potential.

Corruption remains a priority area for both the private sector and development implementers. However, there is no consensus on actionable steps toward addressing it on a global level. This issue is especially important in the context of international trade and development as the private sector plays an increasing role in development outcomes. Moreover, countries with the weakest governance structures tend to be those that most need economic development.

The major institutional features which play an important role in the privatisation process and private sector growth relate to property rights and business-related law, industrial regulatory measures, the growth of capital markets and social safety net schemes. While most of the miseries that Russia suffered originated from the absence of these institutions, China with its gradualist approach had time to learn lessons from some of the Eastern European countries, especially the political backlashes. (CIJ/GIGA)

Market-based reforms and the opening up of trade and investment initiated over the past four years have had a positive impact on growth in Myanmar. These have enhanced private sector participation and increased the role of exports in the economy. Reforms have included streamlined business entry procedures, reduced export and import licensing requirements, and enhanced public-private partnerships and dialogue. Promoting private sector competitiveness and inclusion in Myanmar have enormous potential to drive job creation, economic diversification, and structural transformation. This would involve improving the investment climate with an emphasis on transparency and predictability; reducing trade costs and strengthening connectivity for economic integration; enhancing public-private partnerships; and strengthening institutional capacity to drive the reform process. The ongoing peace process calls for careful sequencing of reforms, starting with reducing the costs of doing business and engaging in trade; consulting with local communities; and supporting vulnerable groups adversely affected by economic changes.

The study investigated the portfolios of insurance investments and private sector growth in Nigeria; for the period (1996-2018). Private sector output is taken as the dependent variable to measure the private sector performance; whereas, cash deposits, government securities and bill of exchange are employed as the independent variables to measure portfolios' insurance investments in Nigeria. Hypotheses formulated were tested using Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) technique. The study revealed a significant relationship between cash deposit and Gross Domestic Product in Nigeria. Government securities has a significant relationship with Gross Domestic Product in Nigeria. Bill of exchange has a significant relationship with Gross Domestic Product in Nigeria. The coefficient of determination indicated that about 64% of the variations in private sector growth can be explained by changes in insurance industry variables in Nigeria. The study concluded that the portfolios insurance investments significantly contributed to the growth and development of the private sector economy. The study recommends that policy makers should pursue an all-inclusive growth promoting financial system. Awareness should be increased to raise the level of patronage. Relevant agencies like the Police and the Federal Road Safety Commission should prosecute unlicensed and uninsured vehicles. Insurance companies should adopt faster methods of processing claims to enhance their image and patronage.Keywords: Insurance, Investment Portfolio, Private Sector Growth, Nigeria

In an attempt to diversify itself away from the dominance of oil on its economy, Saudi Arabia needs to emphasize on the growth of its private sector. Currently, the private sector&rsquo ; s contribution to economic growth is meager as the oil sector dominates the economy. This study attempts to assess the role of financial development towards the growth of the private sector. Assessing this relationship is important, as it is quite probable that the dominant oil sector attracts the financial resources, affecting the private sector adversely. Johansen&rsquo ; s method of cointegration is applied on the data for the period 1985&ndash ; 2018. The private sector&rsquo ; s gross domestic product has a negative relation with the supply of money, positive relation with bank credit to private sector, and no significant relationship with share market capitalization, as shown by the results of the study. In addition, the private sector&rsquo ; s growth has a positive and significant relationship with government expenditure, investment, and trade openness. Hence, the study recommends further strengthening of financial sector services. Besides the current trend on government expenditure, investment and trade openness should continue to enable the private sector to contribute significantly to the economic growth of the country. A previous study on the private sector&rsquo ; s growth and financial variables is exclusively missing, and makes this study unique.