Lebanon ranks very low among emerging markets

According to the Agility Emerging Markets Logistics Index for the year 2016, published by Expert Research and Analysis, Lebanon ranked 42 among 45 markets and the last among 13 Arab countries. The results also indicated that Lebanon came last among 17 middle to high income states covered in the survey, while no change was recorded for the country’s global and regional 2015 status. The Agility Index classifies emerging markets in terms of their size, work conditions, infrastructure and other factors that make them attractive to logistics customers, mainly shipping lines, freight agents and distribution companies. It should be noted that the index uses three metrics to assess the emerging markets, and they are, size, growth attractiveness and compatibility and connectedness. On the global scene, Lebanon ranked ahead of Kenya, Cambodia and Uganda, scoring 3.43 points, at 3.7% fall from the 2015 score of 3.56 points. The survey also showed that Lebanon came in the last place according to the size and growth attractiveness sub-index which reflects the state’s economic product, the expected growth rate of the real GDP, financial stability and population size. Similarly, the market compatibility sub index placed Lebanon 33 globally, 10 among 12 Arab countries and 12  among the middle to high income countries. This sub index, to be noted, rates emerging markets by their market accessibility and business regulation, foreign direct investment, market risk and security threats, as well as by the level of likely demand for logistics services. Finally, Lebanon ranked 37 globally, 12 regionally, and 16 among the middle to high income states according to the market connectedness sub-index which assesses a country’s domestic and international transport infrastructure and how well they connect. (Al Akhbar, January 29, 2016)