Global Scans · Decent Work and Growth · Weekly Summary

In September 2015, 193 world leaders agreed to 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. If these Goals are completed, it would mean an end to extreme poverty, inequality and climate change by 2030.
Goal 9: Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation.

• [New] Vietnam is targeting double-digit growth in 2026, with GDP expected to expand by at least 10%, supported by higher investment, exports and strong domestic demand. Fibre2Fashion
• [New] The electronics sector, one of Vietnam's key strengths, is expected to continue leading with growth of around 14%, driven by investment demand in artificial intelligence (AI). VnBusiness
• [New] Gas supply momentum is building, led by Malaysia, with Indonesia and Vietnam expected to follow, while Asian national oil companies increase M&A to secure long-term growth and resource options. Rystad Energy
• [New] The mobile wallet industry is projected to experience explosive growth through 2026 and beyond, driven by increasing smartphone adoption, digital payment penetration, and consumer demand for convenient financial services. NASSCOM | The Official Community of Indian IT Industry
• [New] There is a huge opportunity if we can help UK SMEs adopt AI in a way that drives productivity and growth. The Times
• [New] AI investment, and fiscal and monetary easing will drive US growth in 2026, but at the cost of rising budget and trade deficits and inflation. Counterfire
• [New] Firms like Oppenheimer and Deutsche Bank are leading the bull case, citing innovation-led earnings growth and potential for further corporate tax cuts. The Chronicle-Journal
• [New] The period leading up to 2026 will likely determine whether Vietnam can transition from a high growth emerging economy to a sustainable, innovation driven powerhouse. PDLegal LLC
• [New] EV adoption is accelerating in emerging markets like Thailand, Vietnam, and Brazil, which could provide long-term growth opportunities even as competition intensifies. Economic Times
• [New] One of the bright spots will be India: growth is very healthy, the credit cycle is in a good spot, inflation is low by India standards and the tariff issues they have had with the US may well be spurring both domestic deregulation and domestic demand. The Times
• [New] In 2026, China's demand-side policy will be moderately increased to achieve economic growth of about 5%. Webull
• [New] Within the eurozone itself, we expect a growth convergence, as Germany finally starts to see some meaningful growth again, while the outperformance of southern Europe is expected to see some headwinds from the end of the EU's Recovery & Resilience Facility. ABN AMRO Bank
• [New] The other major developing economies, such as Brazil, South Africa and Mexico, will continue to struggle to achieve even 2% real GDP growth. Counterfire
• [New] The International Monetary Fund forecasts growth of 0.6% in 2025 and 1.0% in 2026. The Moscow Times
• [New] India is one of the countries with the biggest growth potential due to digital transformation and the increasing risk of cyberattacks. Precedence Research
• [New] AI sectors show quadrupled productivity gains but face valuation risks as $520 B hyperscaler investments drive 9% S&P 500 earnings growth. Ainvest
• [New] FactSet Research data shows an estimated S&P 500 earnings growth of 15% in 2027. Gotrade
• [New] Brazil's National Confederation of Insurance Companies expects 8% growth in total premium volume in 2026, excluding private pension plans. valorinternational
• [New] Despite the policies to fight inflation, Nigeria recorded a robust GDP growth each quarter, with annualised growth expected to exceed 4% for the year. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
• [New] With patience, fiscal discipline, and unity of purpose, Nigeria will emerge in 2026 stronger and better positioned for sustained growth. The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News
• [New] Undergraduate enrolment has been projected to grow by 2.4% in Fall 2026, the third consecutive year of enrolment growth. Division of Enrollment Management

Last updated: 04 January 2026