Armenians optimistic about country’s economic prospects: GTI poll

YEREVAN, February 13. /ARKA/. Armenia is among the 11 states that remain optimistic about their economic prospects, Grant Thornton International, one of the world’s largest accounting and consulting firms, says in its International Business Report (IBR).
 
India (+83%) tops the list of the 11 countries, followed by Botswana (+81%), Brazil (+50%) and Armenia (+46%).

The International Business Report (IBR), formerly known as the International Business Owners Survey (IBOS), provides insight into the views and expectations of over 7,200 privately held businesses across 36 economies, said Gurgen Hakobyan, GTA (
Grant Thornton Amyot) partner.

The report explores the continued emergence of corporate social responsibility, global trends in recruitment and retention issues, investing in global growth markets and trends in mergers and acquisitions.

The results of the report has shown that optimism among privately held businesses has slumped by 56% to a record low of 16% compared to +40% in 2008, with pessimistic forecast prevailing over optimistic ones.

Of the four largest trading nations, the United States and China, who together contribute over 32% of global GDP, scored their optimism at -34% in the United States but +30% in mainland China. Similarly, Japan and India (collectively contributing over 11% of global GDP) scored their optimism at -85% and +83% respectively.

According to Alex MacBeath, global leader of privately held business services, “these polarised results suggest there are still pockets of hope in the global marketplace and it is no coincidence that PHBs are some of the first to realise.”

With entrepreneurs across the world getting ready for a long-lasting downturn, theirs colleagues from developed countries realize that on the micro-level, those economic challenges offer ample opportunities, he said.

PHBs in 33 out of the 36 economies cited a fall in consumer demand with a shortage of business credit a secondary concern, Alex MacBeath added.

“The economies in our survey contribute 81% of global GDP. If politicians were in any doubt about the need to take steps to boost consumer spending and kick start the global economy this overwhelming consensus from PHBs should surely persuade them,” the expert was quoted saying.

The research is carried out by Experian Business Strategies. For each filled in report form, GTI donates $5 to UNICEF, with overall donations reaching $39,000. –0—