Global Scans · Economy · Weekly Summary

DRIVER: The global economy still faces serious headwinds and political uncertainty potentially balanced by the enormous promise of technological advancements in many fields. Read on to get a solid handle on the opportunities and risks you and your organization may likely face and set your sails accordingly.

• [New] The World Economic Forum has posited that while AI may lead to some job losses, it will concurrently create new roles, particularly in sectors requiring human-AI collaboration. OpenTools
• [New] Saudi Arabia's thriving and diversified economy provides a broad spectrum of job opportunities for both Saudi nationals and foreigners seeking better employment opportunities and career development in various industries. edarabia.com
• [New] Emerging economies such as India are actively investing in domestic defence production, creating opportunities for local and international ammunition manufacturers. MarkWide Research
• [New] For India, IMEC presents a historic opportunity to strengthen its role as a global economic player. The Week
• [New] The yearly production of one million metric tons of green hydrogen will decrease global fossil fuel dependence and launch a thriving economic cycle within NEOM. ECO News
• [New] Saudi Arabia executes Vision 2030 as its national initiative to transform its economy from reliance on fossil fuels while enlarging its renewable energy investments. ECO News
• [New] While energy majors like exxon and Chevron might benefit from higher oil prices, the geopolitical uncertainty could deter long-term investment in exploration. Ainvest
• [New] An e-commerce platform like Shopify might use AI to lower prices on slow-moving inventory or increase prices for high-demand items during peak shopping periods. Radiant Info Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
• [New] On a global scale, the policy response elsewhere matters though - China and euro area fiscal stimulus may step up more than expected against the global economic backdrop and to further offset the impact of tariffs. Royal London Asset Management
• [New] As Mexico faces complex economic challenges and an unpredictable global landscape, Unilever's decision to announce investment in Mexico sends a strong signal of stability and opportunity. Latam FDI
• [New] Unilever's investment in Mexico is part of a broader strategic initiative to regionalize production and mitigate global disruptions. Latam FDI
• [New] If Argentina imposes a high tariff on soybean imports, it might encourage domestic production of soybeans, even though it's more efficient at producing beef. FasterCapital
• [New] Malaysia's central bank is set to leave interest rates unchanged on Thursday at 3%, while first-quarter data will likely show the Philippines economy maintained its momentum in the new year. financialpost
• [New] Eight OPEC + member countries on Saturday announced a sharp increase in oil production for the month of June at the risk of driving down already very low prices. Fairfield Sun Times
• [New] To invest billions of dollars in US production, firms will need to be confident that the tariffs that make production in the United States necessary will remain in place. Wilson Center
• [New] Given that Mexico's exports to the US represent about 30% of its GDP - exports represent about 37% of Mexican GDP and exports to the US represent about 80% of total exports - its economy would be significantly impacted, with real GDP lower by 1.6% in 2025 and 4.5% in 2026. MIT OpenCourseWare
• [New] The remaining business segments are more dependent on China's broader economic growth and could benefit from potential stimulus measures expected in March. Sanlam Private Wealth
• [New] According to a 2024 report by the World Economic Forum, AI and automation are expected to displace 85 million jobs globally by 2025, while creating 97 million new ones. NewsyList
• [New] US President Donald Trump has directed his administration to boost domestic production of crucial minerals, a venture that could benefit from the CMF's data. Verdict
• [New] Hershey is calling on the White House to exempt cocoa from tariffs as an escalating trade war could push chocolate prices even higher. Food Dive
• The asset intelligence system known as AI-PRISM will democratize flexible process automation for all manufacturers in Europe, increasing production efficiency and facilitating the green transition at a minimal capital cost. Ufuk Avrupa
• Three years ago, Palo Alto Networks anticipated the future of security operations by introducing Cortex XSIAM, which consolidates and normalizes all cybersecurity data to fuel advanced, real-time analytics and automation, making disjointed point products obsolete. Palo Alto Networks

Last updated: 06 May 2025