Some of the common materials used for packaging in the FMCG industry are glass, carton/cardboard, plastic, can/tin, and paper.

Glass

Glass bottles are highly recommended in alcoholic and non-alcoholic drinks as most consumers prefer this material type in these categories due to it being easily recycled and protecting against odor, moisture, and air. In the beauty industry, glass containers are also highly appealing as more consumers are interested in the premium image.

Carton/cardboard

During the national lockdowns, the takeaway market grew as did the demand for single-use containers. The aim to reduce plastic usage has accelerated interest in cartons/cardboard. Consequently, companies were looking for more sustainable packaging options to satisfy these orders and not create more waste that could end up in the ocean. Also, cartons have a lower environmental impact compared to other packaging materials. They are used to keep products safe that need protection during transportation or handling, such as glass jars. Carboard is also very easy to recycle and store for later use.

The key associations in Bahrain insurance industry are International Association of Insurance Supervisors (IAIS) and Bahrain Insurance Association (BIA).

International Association of Insurance Supervisors

The IAIS formulates and issues various global insurance principles, standards and guidance, provides training and support on issues related to insurance supervision, and organizes meetings and seminars for insurance supervisors. The IAIS works closely with other financial sector standard-setting bodies and international organizations to promote financial stability. It holds an annual conference where supervisors, industry representatives and other professionals discuss developments in the insurance industry and topics affecting insurance regulation. The primary objectives of IAIS are to promote effective and globally consistent supervision of the insurance industry in order to develop and maintain fair, safe and stable insurance operations for the benefit and protection of policyholders, and to contribute to global financial stability.

Bahrain Insurance Association

The BIA started operations as a society under the Ministry of Social Affairs in 1994. The key objectives of the BIA are liaising with the CBB and other appropriate authorities and bodies, promoting the insurance industry and develop public awareness in Bahrain, promoting education and training, and improving technical skills in the insurance industry, promoting sound, ethical and professional standards in the insurance industry.

The closure of physical stores drove consumers towards online retailers. Consumers were able to buy directly from within social media platforms expanding sales opportunities. Click and collect services made purchasing more convenient and reduced the demand for faster, more expensive home delivery fulfilment options. Also, the availability of increased volume of data improved the targeting and retention, increased conversion, fueled extra spend and attracted new users. This has encouraged leading retailers in New Zealand to undertake initiatives and make investments to drive the online arm of their business. Furthermore, retailers have also undertaken initiatives to restructure their supply chains to provide faster fulfilment for consumers. Women are more inclined towards online shopping as it is not only convenient and time-saving, but it also saves the necessity to carry heavy objects or come in contact with others. They can also look for more variety while online shopping of non-essential categories (such as apparel). Men find online retail market useful as they can buy the necessary objects at a lower price.

The global Augmented Reality (AR) market was worth nearly $7 billion in 2020. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 36% during the forecast period. AR is a technology that allows the user to see the real world overlaid with digital data. In defense, AR is currently primarily used in manufacturing and engineering. It is multifaceted, enabling workers to work more accurately, aiding remote assistance collaboration, and can replace paper manuals by providing step-by-step instructions. The advantages of remote assistance and instruction are also being adopted by military medics. As well as this, AR is becoming an increasingly important part of training for the military as simulated assets can be displayed as if in the real world. AR is being used in battlefield applications too, for pilots and infantry, to enhance a soldier’s situational awareness and reaction times.

Over the last decade, delivery methods have undergone fundamental changes driven by technological advancements, increasing competition, and rising consumer expectations. Many apparel retailers have been quick to re-strategize and restructure their logistics to find new ways to provide a convenient shopping experience to customers and gain their loyalty, while others have been slow to react and have fallen behind.

Though a handful of players started offering convenient delivery services in the late twentieth century, these services gained traction following the launch of Amazon Prime in 2005, which raised shopper expectations of fast and free delivery. The success of Amazon Prime has led to the introduction of similar delivery saver schemes such as ASOS Premier, Next Unlimited, JD X Unlimited, and boohoo Premier. Across the apparel landscape, this is a rapidly growing trend amid younger consumers, who generally shop more frequently for lower basket sizes. As with online delivery, retailers must maintain an awareness of their competitors’ offers and should look to be a first mover if there is limited activity from rivals.

The majority of respondents believe they fully understand many of the key emerging technologies, such as internet of things, cybersecurity, cloud computing and 5G.

• Artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, cloud computing and the internet of things are considered to have the most importance in terms of potential impact on the mining industry, with 5G also considered among the key technologies that will deliver the greatest positive impact.

• Investment levels are high in key technologies such as cloud computing, collaboration tools, cybersecurity and AI.

A neuroimmunology drug is an agent that aims to regulate immune system activity to treat neurological diseases with underlying immune pathologies. Of the innovator products marketed for the eight key indications covered in this report, the majority are indicated for multiple sclerosis (MS), followed by neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and for myasthenia gravis (MG). The majority of marketed disease-modifying neuroimmunology products are those approved for the treatment of MS. With over 20 different disease-modifying therapy (DMT) products available, companies are forced to contend with the complexities of a crowded market. There are many ways in which companies seek to differentiate their products, including frequency of administration, method of administration, and side-effect amelioration. Most patients who experience MS exacerbations face the prospect of life-long treatment. As such, the development of novel MOAs for this disease form is still a major focus of industry. For the non-MS indications, there are only a few neuroimmunology products currently approved.

The India insurance industry report is the result of extensive research into the insurance regulatory framework in the country. It provides a detailed analysis of the insurance regulations for life, property, motor, liability, personal accident & health, marine, aviation, and transit insurance.

The report also specifies various requirements for the establishment and operation of insurance and reinsurance companies and intermediaries. It also gives insurers access to information on prevailing insurance regulations, recent and upcoming changes in the regulatory framework, taxation, and legal system in the country. Furthermore, the report includes the scope of non-admitted insurance in the country.

The apparel market in the US was valued at $358.3 billion in 2020 and is forecast to record growth of more than 2% during the period 2021-2025. The US apparel market will be driven by increased consumer demand with a GDP growth forecast in 2021, boosted by high consumption expenditure. The footwear market will grow the fastest as Trainers will continue to outperform as consumers opt for sporty, multifunctional footwear, rather than smart, formal styles, boosting the market as branded trainers have higher average price points.

Supermarkets and hypermarkets such as Walmart and Target are improving their apparel offers and have taken steps to keep up with the casualization and athleisure trends to boost their popularity amongst consumers. These players gained a wider audience during the pandemic as increased unemployment and financial uncertainty compelled consumers to switch to value retailers and supermarkets and hypermarkets provided a convenient way of shopping for apparel as shoppers could purchase across multiple sectors and they remained open while non-essential stores were affected by temporary closures. Supermarkets and hypermarkets have stepped up their private label apparel offers, such as Free Assembly by Walmart and All in Motion by Target, to provide differentiated products to suit customers’ needs.

The global IoT market was worth $622 billion in 2020 with a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of more than 10% over the period, according to GlobalData forecasts. IoT is one of the primary enablers of digital transformation in the automotive sector. It brings together various technologies, like AI, 5G, edge computing, and cloud computing, which helps reduce latency levels to allow real-time decision-making and reduce the need for human intervention in IoT ecosystems. The connected car will increase data generation exponentially and establish itself as a key component of the IoT ecosystem, and eventually, an extension of consumers’ automated homes. Automakers must use this abundance of data to pivot their business models towards software and reduce their dependence on Big Tech to meet the needs of their customers.

The online food delivery market size was valued at US$437.8 billion in 2021 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 9.2% during 2021-2026. The advent of user-friendly apps coupled with changing consumer expectations has been a primary driver favoring growth. Post-pandemic lockdown and social distancing norms fostered the demand, providing some respite to the otherwise dwindling restaurant business worldwide. Soon after, food delivery due to its convenience continued its upward trajectory and captured a permanent space in the dining landscape.

Besides the pandemic, the online food delivery market growth witnessed a rapid uptake due to the proliferation of varied delivery models including one-hour, next-day, or even two-day delivery. To meet the surging demand, key trends such as increased reliance on third-party delivery partners and in-house restaurant delivery fleets are on the rise. Also, tech support from big tech firms entering this sector and food delivery subscriptions have witnessed accelerated growth over the last year and will continue during the forecast period.

While 2021 saw a rebounding of the occasion, it still fell short of its pre-pandemic levels, given that Easter suffered one of the worst declines in 2020. The UK Easter retail occasions market report offers a comprehensive insight into the consumer dynamics and spending habits of UK consumers for Easter. While 2021 saw a rebounding of the occasion, it still fell short of its pre-pandemic levels, given that Easter suffered one of the worst declines in 2020. Despite being financially worse off last year, consumers chose to spend more, willing to sacrifice more of their disposable income to celebrate the occasion.

The United Kingdom (UK) Easter retail occasions market research report offers a comprehensive insight into the consumer dynamics and spending habits of UK consumers for Easter. The report analyses the major players, the main trends, and consumer attitudes.

Retailers are now under greater pressure to offer an experience that is unique for each customer. Consumers too on the other hand are becoming demanding of the services and products they purchase. As such, the level of technological advancements in the field is immense. Drones, AI robots, recommendation engines, etc. are just a few tools aimed at offering a personalized as well as a quick delivery experience to the customers. This in the future will create opportunities for capturing new customers while improving the user experience for existing customers.

The B2C e-commerce market research report provides an executive-level overview of the current B2C e-commerce worldwide, with detailed forecasts of key indicators up to 2026. Published annually, the report provides a detailed analysis of the near-term opportunities, competitive dynamics, and evolution of demand by payment type, across key regional and country markets. The study also captures a detailed overview of key dynamics including technology, and regulatory trends, among others with their current as well as the expected impact on the overall B2C e-commerce demand.

Several oil and gas bid rounds will be held in Africa, Asia, Caribbean, Europe, Former Soviet Union, Middle East, North America, Oceania, and South America in 2022.

Oil and gas bid rounds in Africa

In Africa, bidding is about to close in Egypt and open in Angola, Mozambique, and Algeria. There are upcoming bidding rounds in Angola, Algeria, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gambia, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Nigeria-Sao Tome and Principe Joint Development Zone, Somalia, South Africa, South Sudan, Sudan, and Tanzania. The Egyptian government launched its Limited Bid Round in 2021. Egypt offers most of its upstream acreage in the form of concession agreements with a PSA framework. Parties of the contract are The Government of Arab Republic of Egypt, the Egyptian Natural Gas Holding Company (EGAS), and Contractor.

Oil and gas bid rounds in Asia

In Asia, bidding is about to close in India, Indonesia, Pakistan, and Timor-Leste. Open bidding rounds are being hosted in India and Malaysia, and there are upcoming bid rounds in Bangladesh, Myanmar, Pakistan, and Thailand. In India, companies are invited to bid for exploration, development, and monetization of CBM blocks likely to contain both conventional and/or unconventional hydrocarbon resources, distributed in the sedimentary basins of India.

Egyptian defense and security expenditure inclusive of the US FMF funding is anticipated to value $9.2 billion by 2027, growing at a CAGR of 6.82% over the forecast period. Inclusive of US military aid, Egyptian defense expenditure valued almost $6.2 billion in 2022, and being a major non-NATO ally of the US, the country’s increasing military expenditure is reflected in an ongoing modernization effort to counter terrorism in the Sinai Peninsula, strained relations with Ethiopia, political turmoil following the democratic revolution, and maritime security concerns over the Suez Canal. In 2020, Egypt signed an agreement with Russia for the procurement of 500 T-90MS tanks; prior to this, in April 2019, Egypt inked a contract with Germany regarding the procurement of four MEKO A-200 frigates as a part of a US$2.3 billion deal. To provide support to mitigate the ongoing conflict in Libya, the Egyptian government entered in a contract with Sukhoi Russia regarding the procurement of 24 Su-35 multirole aircraft. However as of January 2022, the deal for SU-35 was annulled after taking delivery of first 5 airframes. As such the requirement for 21 multirole aircraft remains unfulfilled and Egypt could opt for further expanding its followon order for 30 Rafale aircraft.

The global e-commerce market in the consumer goods industry is valued at $355 billion in 2022. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 9% during the forecast period. As online shopping evolves to provide more nuanced solutions, brands and manufacturers will need to understand the changes in consumer online shopping behaviors. Online engagement intended to drive e-commerce purchases is becoming more sophisticated as consumer interactions increasingly include a wider range of digital tools and elements.

E-commerce has proved to be a vital route to market during the pandemic and has acted as a workaround to many supply chain and distribution challenges. The pivot made by many businesses to provide more online solutions has accelerated online sales growth beyond all predictions in the last couple of years. This has forced a change in strategy for many organizations and, when brand and investment plans are reviewed, businesses will need to appreciate both the challenges and the benefits that e-commerce will provide in the future.

The UK food & grocery market size was valued at GBP167.0 billion in 2020. The market is expected to grow at a CAGR of more than 1% during the forecast period. A strong Q1 will contribute to this growth, as well as inflation in H2 which has forced retailers to pass added costs onto the consumer. Restaurants and leisure will take a greater share of grocery spending particularly as businesses will try to encourage employees to return to the office, reducing sales volumes and limiting overall growth in the sector.

The UK food & grocery market report provides comprehensive insight and analysis of the food & grocery market, the major players, key trends, and consumer attitudes in the UK. It also provides an in-depth analysis of the hot issues impacting the market such as ambient retailing, inflation, and the rapid delivery channel, strategies for success, market sizes and forecasts to 2025, retailer profiles and market shares, and consumer shopping behavior. Moreover, the report focuses on six key sub-categories such as food, alcoholic drinks, tobacco and e-cigarettes, soft drinks, household products, and hot drinks.