Asian investors are increasingly turning to alternative markets, particularly the Gulf states, to diversify their investments. This trend is driven by strengthening trade and financial ties with this rapidly growing region, as well as by the prevailing uncertainty in other parts of the world, including the two largest economies, the United States and China. An analysis by Reuters shows that Asian investors have been heavily flocking to the bond and debt markets of Gulf countries this year. This reflects the deepening of commercial and financial relations in the region. Trade volume between the Gulf and Asia reached $516 billion last year. The International Monetary Fund forecasts the Gulf economy to grow by 3.9% this year. Sovereign bond issuance in the Middle East and North Africa jumped 20% year-on-year to $126 billion in the first nine months.
