Saudi Arabia has officially announced the Eid Al Fitr 2026 public holidays for government, private, and non-profit sectors. The break for private and non-profit employees begins March 18, 2026, lasting four days. The exact start of Eid depends on the crescent moon sighting, with official confirmation to follow.

President John Dramani Mahama has pledged support for the expansion of the Ghana Wheat Initiative, emphasizing the crucial role of private sector partnerships in reducing wheat imports.

During a healthcare debate, major Slovenian parties united against privatization, while the opposition highlighted Tina Gaber Golob's role in dietary guidelines and advocated for public healthcare with increased private sector involvement.

Japanese financial regulators are calling on the private sector to collaborate in efforts to combat money laundering activities involving cryptocurrencies.

UAE government urges private sector to work remotely until Tuesday  thenationalnews.com

Despite the recent rebound of the Naira and economic reforms by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration, an ex-Organised Private Sector Chairman warns that prices may remain high, jobs elusive, and poverty deepen in Nigeria.

A reader's opinion piece argues that without salary transparency, equal pay will not advance, highlighting persistent pay gaps, especially in the private sector.

Tanzania invites the private sector to invest in water services provision  thecitizen.co.tz

Governor Sanwo-Olu launches the Invest in Lagos Summit 3.0, a transaction-focused platform to attract global capital and drive private sector investment. Read More: https://punchng.com/sanwo-olu-unveils-lagos-investment-summit/

A study by the DGAFP reveals that over 40% of French civil servants use telework to avoid workplace pressure, benefiting more from it than private sector employees.

Former President Trump has announced a new retirement plan for private sector workers without employer-sponsored plans, similar to the federal employee plan and including savings incentives.

Nigeria’s MPC cuts the interest rate to 26.5%, a move the Organised Private Sector sees as a modest but positive signal for economic growth and stability. Read More: https://punchng.com/mpcs-modest-rate-cut-sends-positive-signal-ops/

Attack on the dying national private sector: the contradictions of the "nationalist" Tahirou Sarr (By Mapathé Kébé)  Seneweb

Private sector leaders in Ghana have praised President John Dramani Mahama for restoring macroeconomic stability, citing the strengthening of the Ghana cedi and declining interest rates.

Private sector steps in as Tanzania gets first specialised premature baby unit  thecitizen.co.tz

IDFC First Bank has disclosed a Rs 590 crore fraud involving its employees and others in accounts held by the Haryana government with the private sector lender.

The UAE has officially confirmed the dates for the Eid Al Fitr holiday for private sector employees.

The US official will meet with both government officials and private sector stakeholders. The post Terrorism Financing: Top US official to visit Nigeria  appeared first on Premium Times Nigeria.

A new maritime container production line is slated to be launched soon in Iran, with cooperation from the private sector.

The UK private sector showed expansion in February, driven by improvements in manufacturing while services eased slightly.

The UAE has clarified overtime work rules for private sector employees during Ramadan 2026, including a two-hour daily reduction in working hours and increased pay for overtime and evening shifts.

India is actively seeking to revive private sector investment in the development of its high-speed road network.

Nurses in Kerala's private sector have initiated a strike, impacting services at 490 hospitals and clinics, as they demand increased wages, improved staffing levels, better patient-caregiver ratios, and an end to arbitrary lay-offs.

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday inaugurated the Renewed Hope Climate Change Awareness Tour (REHCCAT), calling on governors, private sector leaders, and stakeholders to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a resilient, low-carbon economy. The post Tinubu launches climate revolution: “Lead or Lag” in Nigeria’s green race appeared first on Vanguard News.

By Peter Egwuatu Nigeria’s private sector recorded a strong rebound in February, as renewed growth in customer demand lifted business activity and eased inflationary pressures, the latest Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) survey report by Stanbic IBTC Bank has shown. The headline PMI rose to 53.2 in February from 49.7 in January, returning above the 50.0 threshold […] The post Nigeria’s private sector rebounds as PMI climbs to 53.2 pts in February appeared first on Vanguard News.

Harassment cases in the federal government more often involve managers or people in positions of authority than in several parts of the private sector, according to the latest figures published by the government.

A residential building in the private sector of Sumy, Ukraine, sustained damage from an enemy UAV, resulting in more than 10 broken windows.

The UAE's Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE) has recommended remote work for the private sector.

Abia State in Nigeria has unveiled a new Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework. This initiative aims to align private sector investments with community projects, promoting transparency and sustainable development within the state.

Ghana's Minister for Labour, Jobs and Employment, Rashid Pelpuo, emphasized the crucial contribution of private sector sanitation companies like Zoomlion Ghana Limited to the government's proposed 24-hour economy policy.

Private sector union membership remains at a low 5.9% as union victories often turn out badly when major companies like UPS cut thousands of jobs.

According to an Insee study, the gender pay gap in France's private sector decreased to 21.8% in 2024 from 22.2% in 2023, a reduction of 0.4% which is slower than the average 0.9% annual decrease observed between 2019 and 2023.

(ANSA) - ROMA, 26 FEB - The Italian Embassy in Kabul, operating from its headquarters in Doha, hosted the Director of the World Bank Office in the Afghan capital, Faris Hadad-Zervos, for a briefing on the potential and critical issues of the private sector in Afghanistan, considered a key factor for the country's social development and economic recovery. During the meeting, it emerged that, despite a fragile macroeconomic context and a political framework marked by restrictions and constraint...

The private sector rental market in the Netherlands is dwindling as investors continue to

Private sector workers in the Davao region of the Philippines are set to receive a two-stage increase in their daily wage rates, ranging from P20 to P30, effective mid-March.

MANILA, Philippines — Private sector workers in the Davao Region will soon receive a daily minimum wage increase of P20 to P30, the Department of Labor and Employment (DOLE) said on Wednesday. According to DOLE, the National Wages and Productivity Commission (NWPC) approved Wage Order Nos. RB XI-24 and RB XI-DW-04, issued by the Regional

A deputy minister stated that roads on government land cannot be sold or transferred to the private sector. Separately, the MACC chief urged agencies to collaborate for stronger e-waste enforcement.

Education Secretary Sonny Angara participated in an ASEAN forum, advocating for stronger partnerships with the private sector (PPPs) to address the classroom gap and fast-track critical education reforms in the Philippines.

A doctor warns that the strengthening of the private sector in Croatian healthcare, particularly in oncology, is undermining the public system, with the state paying millions to private entities instead of investing in public equipment.

Government, private sector seal partnership for WRC Safari Rally 2026  standardmedia.co.ke

UAE has announced the Eid Al Fitr holiday schedule, offering early clarity for all. Federal government employees get a break from March 19-22, 2026. Private sector workers will enjoy a holiday from Ma

Eid Al Fitr 2026: UAE holiday dates for public and private sector  thenationalnews.com

Financing challenges remain the biggest setback to Ghana’s efforts to expand microgrids and minigrids to underserved communities, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has said. Speaking at the National Forum on Microgrids and Minigrids for Off-Grid Electrification in Accra, in a speech delivered on his behalf, the Minister noted that high upfront costs and perceived investment risks continue to discourage private sector participation.

UK budget surplus hits record in January and retail sales rose, while private sector activity is strengthening in February UK reports record-breaking budget surplus of £30.4bn in surprise boost for Rachel Reeves Art and antiques help lift retail sales in Great Britain to biggest monthly rise since 2024 The jump in tax receipts last month may show that UK government receipts are starting to get the boost from inflation and wage growth earlier in the year. Nick Ridpath, research economist at the Institute for Fiscal Studies, says: Today’s data on the public finances is particularly important, given the outsized impact of January’s self-assessment returns on revenues and borrowing for the year as a whole. Income tax receipts had been a little disappointing over 2025, lagging behind forecasts even as inflation and wage growth exceeded expectations. But today’s data shows that self-assessment revenues in January were almost £2bn (6%) higher than forecast. Mail order retailers, which are predominantly online, experienced a boost from retailers selling sports supplements, as well as continued strong sales volumes by online jewellers. Comments from jewellers reported that demand had hit unprecedented levels. Continue reading...

South Africa's ANC party, traditionally hostile to corporate interests, is now collaborating with the private sector to strengthen the nation's economy.

Igoche Mark has praised recent sports reforms in Nigeria and called for continued government funding and increased private sector investment, particularly in national teams.

China's Debt Model Creates Danger Of Stagnation Authored by Daniel Lacalle, The latest social financing figures from China show an economy that is increasingly relying on government debt while private demand for credit remains weak. The strength of the Chinese technology sector and its exporting companies gives enough room for leverage. However, behind the weak private sector credit demand lies an evident economic slowdown that the Chinese government acknowledges, challenging consumption patterns, a significant overcapacity problem, and the depth of the housing crisis. The current economic model, focused on delivering 5% real economic growth, requires larger doses of debt to achieve smaller increments of growth, especially productive sector growth. The government has focused on reducing debt and overcapacity imbalances while reorienting its exports and financial system to lessen dependence on the US dollar; however, the main challenge for the Chinese economy remains boosting consumer demand, despite rate cuts and easing financial conditions. To understand the intensity of debt of the Chinese model, we must go to the year 2000 and see the acceleration in the flow of debt, not just the current stock. At that time, real GDP growth was around 8–9%, so each percentage point of growth came with roughly 13–16 points of debt‑to‑GDP. Government debt was very low, at around 25% of GDP, and most leverage sat in the state-owned corporate sector with modest household debt. China was able to deliver near‑double‑digit growth with a total non‑financial debt ratio barely above 120% of GDP. By 2023, non‑financial sector debt had risen to about 285% of GDP, more than doubling its level of 2000. Chinese think‑tanks and official commentators put the “macro leverage ratio” closer to 300% of GDP by 2025, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The macro leverage ratio rose by 11.8 percentage points to 302.3 percent in 2025, exceeding the 10.1-point increase reported in 2024. Over the same period, the trend of real GDP growth has slowed to roughly 4–5%, so each percentage point of growth now requires around 60–75 points of debt‑to‑GDP, more than three times the debt per point of growth required in 2000. Furthermore, it comes mostly from government debt. In January 2026, aggregate social financing jumped by 7.22 trillion yuan, significantly higher than in the same month of 2025 and above market expectations, consistent with 5% annual GDP growth and a larger composition of the public sector in the mix. Outstanding social financing reached 449.11 trillion yuan at the end of January, rising 8.2% year‑on‑year, while money supply (M2) rose by 9%.​ New yuan bank loans were 4.7 trillion yuan, about 420 billion less than a year earlier and significantly below consensus, showing the weak private‑sector credit demand and the prudent approach of Chinese customers and businesses to debt addition. RMB loans outstanding stood at 276.62 trillion yuan, up only 6.1% year‑on‑year, clearly below the pace of overall financing and money growth. The driver of credit growth in China is no longer households and private firms but the government and state-owned companies. The real estate problem has impacted Chinese families in numerous ways. Not only did most of them see the value of their homes decline, but many families invested in the attractive yields of real estate developers’ commercial paper, which led to large losses and even the wipe-out of savings for many. Additionally, despite the excess in supply of houses, prices have not fallen enough to warrant enough appetite for new mortgages, as affordability remains an issue and the traditional prudence of Chinese citizens when it comes to consuming and borrowing adds to the challenge. Beijing plans to issue 4.4 trillion yuan in local government special‑purpose bonds in 2025, 500 billion more than in 2024, looking to boost government investment and a “proactive fiscal policy,” knowing that raising taxes would be exceedingly negative for growth and consumption. Local governments are expected to issue more than 10 trillion yuan in bonds in 2025, including refinancing, general bonds, and new special bonds. The Chinese government knows that it can manage more debt but also sees the weak investment and household spending and acknowledges that large tax increases would be counterproductive.  However, to prevent future debt-driven stagnation, a focus on productivity is necessary. The official budget sets a deficit of 4% for 2025. However, once all budget items are consolidated, including government funds, special bonds, and off‑budget vehicles, this true fiscal deficit in 2025 is closer to 9%, up from 7.7% in 2024, according to Rhodium Group and JP Morgan. China increasingly relies on hidden or almost fiscal borrowing to support growth. With outstanding social financing now around 449 trillion yuan and real growth around 4–5%, each incremental point of GDP is increasingly linked with a much larger stock of debt than a decade ago. This rising credit intensity of growth may prevent a significant slowdown but may create a significant fiscal challenge in the future. The Chinese model demands high growth and low taxes; any change to the fiscal system will be negative. For years, local governments relied on the sale of land for property development to collect tax receipts. Thus, the drag from real estate is evident in the economy and in fiscal sustainability. Real estate development investment fell 13.9% year‑on‑year in the first three quarters of 2025, with residential investment down 12.9%, the steepest drop since 2021, according to official figures. Property investment and sales both posted double‑digit declines in 2024, and forecasters expect real estate investment to fall another 11% and sales to drop 7.5% in 2025, according to Reuters, with further declines in 2026 before stabilizing only in 2027… if it happens as fast as consensus estimates. The property sector, once a key engine for economic growth and tax receipts, absorbs new credit to stabilize its accounts without boosting growth or creating a multiplier effect. Additionally, China’s industrial capacity utilization remained at 74.9% at the end of 2025, well below the 78.4% peak reached in 2021. Overcapacity is clear in steel, autos, legacy chips, and parts of sectors like green tech, where expansion has surpassed domestic and external demand. Thus, the purchasing managers’ indices show weak new orders and foreign demand, while bankruptcies and insolvencies have risen, although not to levels that would indicate a financial crisis.​ The Chinese economy needs to reopen, improve investor and legal security and allow the housing slump to materialize fully to see the type of productive economic growth it needs to avoid much larger increases in debt. Otherwise, the risk of stagnation will likely be elevated as population growth stalls, overcapacity remains, and the stock of unsold property becomes a larger liability.   Tyler Durden Mon, 02/16/2026 - 22:25

Pakistan's Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb warns that a surging population threatens economic growth and job creation, emphasizing the private sector's role in employment.

Cuba has introduced new regulations for partnerships between its state and private sectors, following President Miguel Diaz-Canel's call for urgent economic transformations in March 2026.

The Supreme Council for Civil Personnel Selection (ASEP) has opened applications for 1,696 permanent positions in Greek hospitals, as well as private sector employment positions.

Nigeria’s private sector growth rebounded in February, driven by new orders and easing inflation, according to the latest Stanbic IBTC PMI report. Read More: https://punchng.com/private-sector-returns-to-growth-in-february-report/

The story of artificial intelligence (AI) in Pakistan’s corporate sector is no longer a tale of a distant future — it is a narrative of the present. What began as isolated experiments by a few tech-forward companies has, over the last decade, evolved into a broad-based movement toward digital transformation. Today, backed by government policy and private sector investment, AI is shifting from a novelty to a necessity for businesses aiming to stay competitive. The history of corporate AI in Pa...

Dubai's private sector operating normally; most activities run without disruption  Khaleej Times

Indian ministry denies fake evacuation flight claims from Dubai amid regional tensions  Khaleej Times

More doctors and patients in the UK are turning to the private sector as increasing demand puts immense pressure on the National Health Service (NHS), leading many GPs to work outside the public system.

The Abia State Government will host the Abia Business Roundtable on March 5, 2026, to foster collaboration between the government and the private sector. Read More: https://punchng.com/abia-hosts-business-roundtable-to-boost-private-sector/

The Trump administration has decided to ease fuel supplies to Cuba's private sector as part of a strategy to increase US influence and make the island more dependent on US provisions.

The Greek government plans to extend the digital work card, already in use in the private sector, to public sector employees to electronically record their arrival and departure times.

An opinion piece analyzes the South African state's increasing reliance on the private sector and warns of the potential for a new form of state capture.

While the overall percentage of female directors in the private sector has increased, the proportion of female chief executives has seen a step backward.

The improvement in PAT came on top of 10% increase in sales revenue coming in at ₹19.4 lakh crore of the over 3,100 companies of which RBI analysed the data

A three-day Chintan Shivir exhibition and conference will be held to discuss urban plans for temple towns, bringing together urban practitioners, policymakers, and private sector participants to deliberate on mobility, housing, digital governance, and municipal finance.

Private sector to run the WRC Safari Rally.

A joint communiqué has been issued by 13 participating countries, committing to mobilize funding from both the public and private sectors, though the specific context or purpose of this funding is not detailed in the headline.

The Ghana Private Sector Competitiveness Programme Phase II has injected about one million Ghana cedis into Ghana’s tree crops sector to support the Tree Crops Investment Summit and Exhibition, a move aimed at attracting new investment and unlocking growth opportunities across the value chain.

President Mahama has announced plans to open Ghana’s industrial water supply sector to private participation.

The United Arab Emirates has officially confirmed the dates for the Eid Al Fitr holiday for employees in the private sector.

The United Arab Emirates has officially announced the dates for the Eid Al Fitr 2026 holiday for employees in both the public and private sectors.

Romania's Health Minister commented on the issue of state-employed doctors also working in the private sector, stating that it creates a 'minus' for the public system and efforts are being made to reduce the problem.

The UK's private sector experienced an increase in activity during February, according to S&P Global, even as job losses continued.

Exclusive: Prospect boss Mike Clancy cites problems retaining technical and digital experts Ministers must end “barking mad” restraints on civil service pay or risk being unable to recruit the technical and digital specialists it needs to keep pace, a union leader has warned. Mike Clancy, the Prospect general secretary, said the government should end the “rightwing trope” that restrained the pay of highly skilled civil servants and left government unable to compete with the private sector. He said it should be realistic for senior specialists in competitive fields to be paid more than the prime minister. Continue reading...

In Cuba's ongoing crisis, the private sector is flourishing, offering goods from basic foodstuffs to luxury items to those who can afford them, while others struggle.

• Accumulated losses hit Rs2.07tr by June 2025; half of it piled up in just three years • Outstanding loans stand near Rs3.1tr, debt rising Rs300bn a year • Financing cost reaches Rs210bn in FY25, highest among SOEs ISLAMABAD: Carrying the largest outstanding loan portfolio on its books and a negative return on assets, the National Highway Authority (NHA) — the country’s logistics backbone — is the single largest entity bleeding the federal budget, exposing Pakistan to substantial fiscal risk despite the recent doubling of tolls. The NHA is the “largest loss-maker”, operating on a “structural deficit model and reliant on budgetary support”, the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the Ministry of Finance said in its Annual Aggregate Report on state-owned enterprises (SOEs) for the year ended June 30, 2025. With accumulated losses of Rs2.074 trillion, the entity that owns and operates all the national highways and motorways accrued around Rs1.004tr in the last three years alone — about Rs295 billion each in FY24 and FY25 and Rs413bn in FY23. Moreover, it stands out at the top of the SOE list, with the largest accrued financing cost of Rs210bn in FY25, as its toll revenue remains unaligned with debt servicing, leading to fiscal dependence and sovereign guarantee exposure. “Currently, the NHA holds outstanding loans totalling approximately Rs3.1tr, with an annual debt accretion rate of Rs300bn. This debt portfolio generates Rs98bn in markup, which is expected to rise to more than Rs150bn per annum, creating a substantial credit risk for the government of Pakistan (GoP), which guarantees these loans”, the CMA said. It said the presence of sovereign guarantees for public-private partnership (PPP) contracts added further financial strain, amplifying the government’s credit risk exposure. With more than Rs115 billion in loans given by the federal government last year, it is also among the top borrowers. On the other hand, its net assets remained almost static over the last three years, actually declining slightly from Rs5.84tr in FY23 to Rs5.83tr in FY25. Its total equity has been declining over time from Rs2.57tr in FY23 to Rs2.27tr in FY24 and Rs1.95tr in FY25. Conversely, NHA’s total liabilities have been increasing, making it the single-largest entity to accrue current liabilities. Its total liabilities amounted to Rs3.27tr in FY23, increasing to Rs3.54tr in FY24 and reaching Rs3.88tr by the end of FY25. The CMU observed that National Highway Authority’s 2025 performance underscored its strategic importance yet exposed growing fiscal vulnerability. “Despite an impressive surge in toll revenues and build, own and transfer (BOT) project inflows, the authority continues to operate under a persistent deficit, driven by high depreciation and finance costs,” it said. Operating income rose sharply to Rs83.1bn in FY25 (against Rs42.4bn in FY24), propelled by the doubling of toll income to Rs64.4bn. However, the overall income of Rs119.7bn remained insufficient against total expenditures of Rs408.1bn. Consequently, the deficit before levy and taxation stood at Rs292.98bn and the deficit after tax at Rs294.86bn, reflecting continued structural stress. It noted that two critical components eroded National Highway Authority’s profitability. These include depreciation expense of Rs133.8bn, reflecting a heavily capital-intensive asset base and growing maintenance backlog and Rs193.5bn finance cost, up from Rs182bn last year, highlighting the escalating burden of debt and interest rate exposure. The CMU advised diversification of funding sources through infrastructure bonds targeted at domestic institutional investors and international development markets. It said the expansion of public-private partnerships for new road construction, maintenance outsourcing and service area development can shift part of the fiscal and operational burden to the private sector while improving efficiency and service quality. The CMU also called for renegotiating loan terms with lenders to extend maturities, reduce interest rates or convert debt into quasi-equity instruments to create immediate fiscal space. Published in Dawn, February 16th, 2026