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BMI View: Iraq's healthcare and pharmaceuticals market has suffered from a lack of investment and the impact of war - much of the infrastructure is outdated; hospitals, clinics and pharmacies lack trained personnel; and the health insurance sector is immature and can offer the government little in terms of income. Other issues, such as continued security risks, also remain, holding back development and deterring multinationals. The government is taking steps to modernise healthcare facilities, however, and a combination of agreements with other governments (attracted by Iraq's natural resources), NGOs and public spending is funding new developments. There are several new hospital projects in the pipeline, and the government has also expressed plans to restructure and privatise state-owned enterprises - which has caught the interest of potential investors. Iraq's regulatory framework also needs strengthening, as, in its current state, there is little distinction between prescription and OTC drugs, while counterfeit medicines are rife.

We are relatively optimistic about the longer-term performance of the UK's pharmaceutical market, on account of rising demand for services and treatment, stimulated by factors such as an ageing population and increased health awareness. However, over the five years to 2017, we project that the market will decline in value terms, because of patent expirations and various cost-containment measures that include cost-effectiveness assessment of expensive treatments. Still, high per capita consumption of patented medicines, risk-sharing agreements with manufacturers and an increase in access to services are expected to provide positives for multinationals involved in the country.

The long-term outlook for Israel's energy sector is increasingly positive, as some of the country's major gas discoveries move closer to development. Indeed, just as Israel is forced to cope with challenges to its energy security, it edges closer to greater energy independence through the beginning of production at the country's offshore Tamar oilfield. The country's potential as a natural gas exporter is also growing, as it is likely that gas from both the Tamar and Leviathan fields will become available for export over the medium term.

Oil production in Norway may be in decline, but the country retains considerable upside gas potential and should continue to be a major force in European energy supply for decades to come. Discoveries of considerable size are clearly still possible in mature areas, as demonstrated by the giant Johan Sverdrup and surrounding oil finds that continue to be made. This, and fresh prospective acreage offered in the Barents Sea, should stimulate new investment from domestic and foreign operators, slow a decline in oil output and spur on gas production within our 10-year forecast period.

Portugal is a low value market by Western European standards, a consequence of a high proportion of prepaid subscriptions and low incomes. Operators are also facing a number of challenges including market saturation, with penetration above 160%, declining ARPUs as a result of the macroeconomic environment, price competition and IP substitution. Consolidation may provide an avenue for greater profitability, while the rollout of LTE does offer the opportunity for more efficient infrastructure and revenue growth from higher value data services. However, in an uncertain economic environment, these opportunities could be derailed.

A Kickstarter campaign to fund commercial production of a new multifunction demolition and construction tool, the Cole-Bar Hammer, has achieved 96% funding after just 22 days. Over 1,351 backers had pledged $96,853 of the project’s $100,000 goal, according to the project leader, Brandon Hyde and the tool’s inventor, Lance Hyde. The project had already proven popular on the funding platform—it had raised over $30,000 before the campaign was officially launched at the 2013 National Hardware Show on May 7.

In 2012, the mixed retailers channel grew by 4% in current value terms to reach sales of EUR2.9 billion. Mixed retailers invested a great deal in expanding their selling spaces by extending their stores and updating their outlet concepts to drive sales. The leading player Stockmann Oyj Abp completed work on its vastly expanded (10,000 sq m) department store in 2010. In 2011, Tokmanni Oy expanded its selling space by 10,000 sq m and in 2012 further expansion continued. The channel's positive...

Vacuum cleaners registered positive growth in 2012 of 2% in volume and 3% in current value terms. The strong growth of robotic vacuum cleaners was a main contributor to the category's performance. The growth was enough to offset the negative performance of standard vacuum cleaners which declined by 1% in 2012. Thanks to robotic vacuum cleaners, the performance of vacuum cleaners bounced back with positive growth for only the second time in five years.

Company Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Company Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Company Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Company Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Company Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A), Partnerships & Alliances and Investments reports offer a comprehensive breakdown of the organic and inorganic growth activity undertaken by an organization to sustain its competitive advantage.

Breakfast Cereals in China industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market share, market size (value and volume 2007-2011, and forecast to 2016). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the China breakfast cereals market. Includes market size and segmentation data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

Menswear in Poland industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2008-12, and forecast to 2017). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the Poland menswear market. Includes market size data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

Communications Equipment in Japan industry profile provides top-line qualitative and quantitative summary information including: market size (value 2008-12, and forecast to 2017). The profile also contains descriptions of the leading players including key financial metrics and analysis of competitive pressures within the market. Essential resource for top-line data and analysis covering the Japan communications equipment market. Includes market size and segmentation data, textual and graphical analysis of market growth trends, leading companies and macroeconomic information.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the life insurance industry in Slovenia. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for claims and expenses. 'Life Insurance Claims and Expenses in Slovenia to 2017: Market Databook' provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the life insurance industry in Slovenia. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Slovenian life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the life insurance industry in Estonia. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for investments. 'Life Insurance Investments in Estonia to 2017: Market Databook' provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the life insurance industry in Estonia. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Estonian life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the life insurance industry in Latvia. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for distribution channels. 'Life Insurance Distribution Channels in Latvia to 2017: Market Databook' provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the life insurance industry in Latvia. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Latvian life insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the personal accident and health insurance industry in Latvia. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for travel insurance. 'Travel Insurance in Latvia to 2017: Market Databook' provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the personal accident and health insurance industry in Latvia. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Latvian personal accident and health insurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

This report is the result of Timetric's extensive market research covering the reinsurance industry in Latvia. It contains detailed historic and forecast data for reinsurance. 'Reinsurance in Latvia to 2017: Market Databook' provides detailed insight into the operating environment of the reinsurance industry in Latvia. It is an essential tool for companies active across the Latvian reinsurance value chain and for new players considering to enter the market.

The report presents detailed data on consumption trends in the Perms & Relaxers category in Argentina, analyzing consumption volumes and values at segment level. It also provides indispensable data on distribution channels andlatest industry news.

The report presents detailed data on consumption trends in the Take Home Ice Cream category in Japan, analyzing consumption volumes and values at segment level. It also provides indispensable data on distribution channels, profiles of companies active in the Ice Cream sector, latest industry news and mergers and acquisitions in the sector.

Published by Canadean, Country Beverage Forecasts provide consumption trends (1999 to 2011 actual, 2012 provisional plus 2013 to 2018 forecasts) for key beverage categories.

Published by Canadean, Country Beverage Forecasts provide consumption trends (1999 to 2011 actual, 2012 provisional plus 2013 to 2018 forecasts) for key beverage categories.