Markets Equity markets had a tough week in spite of strong corporate earnings results, as concerns grew about global growth and China’s ongoing regulatory crackdown (on its education... Read More
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In this interview with Al Arabiya, Dr. Nasser Saidi discusses the macroeconomic outlook for Oman, in the backdrop of the... Read More
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Recent & Upcoming Events
Jun 17: “Stability Redefined- Who Authors the Future?”: e-Policy Circle 7 webinar (invite only)
Jun 15: Discussion on Lebanon with Carnegie Middle East Center (invite only)
Jun 4: Panelist at OMFIF webinar on Sovereign debt restructuring in emerging markets
May 22: Speaker at the YPO Lebanon webinar
May 17: Panelist at Sheikh Rashed Virtual Majlis on the “Effects of COVID19 on the UAE’s economy”
May 13: Panelist at NUS Middle East Institute webinar “The GCC’s Double Dilemma: Tackling COVID-19 and Falling Oil Prices”
May 6: Panelist at the CEBC webinar “A Pandemic, Oil Price Collapse, A Recession: Is the Future still Green?”
Publications / All
The MENA-OECD Working Group on Investment and Trade‘s 2018 meeting was... Read More
The commencement speechat the Universite St. Joseph was delivered by... Read MoreIn the Media
Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments appeared in an Arab News article titled “Saudi Arabia tops emerging markets league table” on 26th July 2021. The comments are posted below. “Saudi Arabia’s market outperformance and strong corporate valuations reflect its sustained course of economic transformation, along with liquidity boosting by the central bank,” financial expert Nasser Saidi told Arab News. “Economic and structural reforms, along with social liberalization policies, including opening up foreign markets to foreign investors, allowing for 100 percent foreign ownership in certain sectors, resulted in massive investment inflows.” He highlighted the effect of the “policy-shattering” initial public offering of Saudi Aramco, and the steady stream of market flotations continuing this... Read More
Dr. Nasser Saidi joined Yousef Gamal El-Din on the 25th of July, 2021 as part of the Bloomberg Daybreak: Middle East edition, discussing the impact the Delta variant is having on global markets and inflation concerns. Dr. Saidi also spoke about Lebanon and the potential way forward (in terms of sanctions, failed state etc) as part of the interview Watch the interview segment below and can also be accessed at https://www.bloomberg.com/news/videos/2021-07-25/fed-to-grapple-with-delta-risks-video 
Dr. Nasser Saidi’s comments were published as part of the article titled “With Lebanon edging closer to hyperinflation, a family of five now pays five times the minimum wage for food each month” in L’Orient Today; these are copied below. Nasser Saidi, a former economy and industry minister, warned that although the country has not yet crossed the hyperinflation threshold, salary stagnation, especially in the public sector, is likely to push it there. Workers in several sectors, including transportation, education and banking, have already held multiple strikes to protest worsening living conditions. As the security forces and other public sector employees up their demands for... Read More
Dr. Nasser Saidi’s interview with CNN’s Eleni Giokos on the program First Move focused on the real decline in income in Lebanon and the ongoing economic crisis. It was aired on the 19th of July 2021. "A 40% real decline in income. Forget the Great Depression. This is multiple times that." Former Lebanese Economy Minister @Nasser_Saidi discusses #Lebanon’s economic freefall & political gridlock with @EleniGiokos. pic.twitter.com/bnFtFe8h7w — First Move CNN (@firstmove) July 19, 2021
Dr. Nasser Saidi commented on the latest move from Saudi Arabia – changes in import rules and preferential tariffs – in the FT article titled “Trade emerges as latest flashpoint in deepening Saudi-UAE rivalry” published on 14th Jul 2021. The full article can be accessed at: https://www.ft.com/content/0cb64e0b-fcad-4992-beed-191261caa406 The comments are posted below: Economists say co-operation under the auspices of the GCC, rather than competition between members, would be a better route to a prosperous and diverse regional economy. “This is a moment of opportunity to rewrite the rules and come up with a new customs union agreement and look forward to the future,” said Nasser Saidi, a Dubai-based economist. Building... Read More
