Our Scans · (ZY.4.07) Development Studies · Weekly Summary

• [New] Most GCC countries have forecasted increased spending in 2025 compared to 2024, with investments heavily focused on infrastructure, strategic projects, and priority economic sectors aligned with their long-term development visions such as Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030 and UAE's Centennial 2071. GCC BUSINESS WATCH
• [New] Budget 2025 proposes to introduce legislation and provide $216.6 million per year, starting in 2029-30, to Employment and Social Development Canada, Indigenous Services Canada, and Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada, to make the National School Food Program permanent. Santis Health
• [New] Arctic Economic and Security Corridor: A set of all-weather, dual-use, land and port-to-port-to-port infrastructure projects that will contribute to Canada's defence and northern development. ConstructConnect.com
• [New] While income inequality between individuals declined in recent decades, largely due to economic development in China, there had been a major increase in inherited wealth, with $70 trillion expected to be handed down to heirs in the coming 10 years. Yahoo Finance Singapore
• [New] Expected economic impacts involve mitigating risks from disruptions, such as potential $150 billion in losses from a 10% supply interruption in reliant industries, though full development of alternative chains may take 5-10 years. GeopoliticsUnplugged Substack
• [New] China's expertise in infrastructure development can help bridge Africa's infrastructure gap, promoting economic growth and development, and creating opportunities for job creation and economic diversification. The Eagle Online
• [New] Budget 2025 will propose to provide $75 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to Employment and Social Development Canada to expand the Union Training and Innovation Program, which supports union-based apprenticeship training in the Red Seal trades. CNW Group
• [New] Export Development Canada is forecasting economic growth of just 0.9% for 2025, inching up in 2026 to just 1%. nationalpost
• [New] Ahmad Parveez said that initiatives such as replanting, strengthening of the Malaysian Sustainable Palm Oil certification, and the development of plantation automation technologies will continue to be intensified to ensure the resilience of Malaysia's palm oil industry. CSPO Watch
• [New] The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development 's Agricultural Outlook for 2025-2034 projects a 6% increase in global per capita consumption of animal-sourced foods by 2034. Site name
• [New] Economic Impact: McKinsey & Company estimates that generative AI could generate $60 to $110 billion in value annually for the pharmaceutical industry, while overall development costs are being reduced by up to 70% through better compound selection and virtual screening capabilities. Sully.Ai
• [New] India will seek to achieve climate and economic development goals simultaneously. Last Week in ConTech
• [New] The sustainable development goals (SDGs) set by the United Nations have garnered widespread acceptance, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where they are regarded as the paramount global agenda for enhancing population health and well-being by 2030. LWW
• [New] The Duqm Economic Forum 2025 underscores Oman's strategic pivot towards sustainable development and technology-driven growth, presenting robust opportunities in tourism, green manufacturing, and smart cities powered by AI. OMANET | Navigate Oman's Market
• [New] Cyberspace has become both a new realm for development and a new frontier for global security - where opportunities and challenges are intertwined, and where technological advancement must always go hand in hand with ethics and responsibility. SGGP English Edition
• [New] Without coordinated governance and biodiversity safeguards, the push for renewable energy could undermine international commitments under the UN Ocean Decade, the Convention on Biological Diversity and Sustainable Development Goal 14 (Life Below Water). Mirage News
• [New] In 2026, there will be a high-profile platform to spotlight breakthrough developments in coastal protection, erosion control, sediment transport analysis, shoreline stabilization, and climate adaptation that support sustainable coastal development and ecosystem protection. The Hydrographic Society
• [New] Sports tourism is gaining traction globally as it merges the excitement of sports with the experience of travel, creating unique opportunities for cultural exchange, economic development, and community engagement. Yahoo Finance
• [New] Mining diversification represents Botswana's strategic response to changing global economic conditions and the need for sustainable development models that maximise natural resource value whilst creating inclusive growth opportunities. Discovery Alert
• [New] Botswana's Vision 2036 national development framework explicitly prioritises mining diversification as a cornerstone of economic resilience and sustainable growth. Discovery Alert
• [New] The UK will continue to advocate for investment as a driver of sustainable development, alongside gender equality and climate-smart trade policies. GOV.UK
• [New] With further expansion of economic development in Eastern Europe, the Middle East, North Africa and more widely, demand for better education, health care and related humanitarian activities also will grow. Chicago Tribune
• [New] Crucially, careful policy decisions regarding the Soy Moratorium in 2026 will be essential to balance economic development with environmental preservation. / China The Chronicle-Journal

Last updated: 07 November 2025