We are witnessing some positive initiatives and dynamism of great governance with countries like UAE and KSA opening up their markets with ease of regulations on visit visas. This we hope will have a positive impact on overall mobility, driving commerce and perhaps even migration. Industries like retail, entertainment , Hospitality or even cross border payments are likely to benefit from this move. On a few other fronts however, the world feels a bit chaotic at the moment, creating some form of anxiety across boardrooms. We see the usual suspects engaging in discussions around the future of the industry, rollout of newer technologies for wider reach and deeper engagement. But it’s easier said than done. The future invariably arrives slower than you want and faster than you expect. Thus companies and brands will need to consider strategies that go beyond mere efficiencies but explore clever ways to earn attention, drive conversion and earn brand loyalty. Once again this year, we will attempt to look at some broad themes a few clever brands may adopt in order to thrive and get ahead in the race. We hope you find this relevant and helps trigger some thoughts as we start to plan the year ahead.