The Gulf, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey region is growing in importance as an integrated economic hub, says a new report.
Oman Investment Bank’s report titled “GCAT: The Rise of a Strategic Economic Corridor,” which highlights economic performance and developments across the region, says the region connects energy-rich Gulf states with resource-abundant Central Asian countries, extending to European markets through Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia.
The report covers 14 strategically significant economies and underscores the region’s growing importance as an integrated economic hub connecting energy-rich Gulf states with resource-abundant Central Asian countries, extending to European markets through Turkey, Azerbaijan, and Georgia. Together, these economies represent a combined GDP of approximately $4.4 trillion, equivalent to 4% of global GDP, with an average annual growth forecast of 4.4% between 2025 and 2027, surpassing the 3.9% average growth rate of other emerging markets.
Akin Tuzun, Head of Research at Oman Investment Bank, said: “The GCAT Report reflects our broader research vision to connect macroeconomic analysis with commodity market dynamics across the Gulf, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey. This region is becoming an increasingly pivotal corridor for global trade, energy, and investment flows. By combining precise country-level forecasts with sectoral and commodities analysis, we aim to enable investors and policymakers to better understand how diversification, energy transformation, and trade integration are shaping long-term growth trajectories across this expanding economic corridor.”
Building on these insights, the report emphasises that energy continues to serve as a cornerstone of regional integration and growth, as the Gulf, Central Asia, the Caucasus, and Turkey collectively hold 35% of the world’s crude oil reserves and 30% of natural gas reserves, while accelerating investments in renewable energy and green projects.
The report reaffirms Oman Investment Bank’s commitment to delivering data-driven, in-depth economic insights that enhance the understanding of regional and global trends in trade, growth, and investment. It further highlights the bank’s position as a trusted source of specialized analysis and a key contributor to national efforts aimed at positioning the Sultanate as a leading financial and investment hub in the region, while shedding light on ongoing economic diversification in the Gulf, sustained growth momentum across Central Asia, and Turkey’s growing role as a regional bridge connecting East and West. – TradeArabia News Service