MENA EMERGES AS GROWTH HOT SPOT FOR RETAILERS

DUBAI, June 22 (Bernama) -- The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region exhibits the most exciting retail growth opportunities today for international retailers, according to a survey by management consulting firm A.T. Kearney.

In its ninth annual Global Retail Development Index (GRDI) study, eight
countries in the region were among the top 21, with Kuwait leading the pack in
second place, followed by Saudi Arabia (4) and United Arab Emirates (7).

Tunisia came in eleventh in the index, followed by Egypt (13), Morocco
(15), Turkey (18) and Algeria (21).

"The attractiveness of the MENA retail markets provides ample opportunities
for regional as well as global retailers," Martin Fabel, a partner at A.T.
Kearney Middle East, said in a statement.

"Our research stresses that establishing operations in a portfolio of
countries, both small and large, offers the best path to global success for
retailers," he added.

The study indicated that the MENA region appeared poised for fast recovery
from the global turbulence and its retail market had proven resilient.

"Retail sales are rising, driven by higher disposable incomes, urban
population growth, a strengthening middle class and infrastructure
investments," it noted.

The index ranks 30 emerging countries based on a set of 25 variables
across four primary categories, economic and political risk, market
attractiveness, market saturation and time pressure.
-- BERNAMA