Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1519075
52 PCB007 MAGAZINE I APRIL 2024 Growth Projections and Inflation Outlook Amidst the evolving geopolitical and eco- nomic landscape, growth projections vary across different regions for 2024. e Euro Area is anticipated to witness modest growth of 1.2%, reflecting ongoing challenges and uncer- tainties. Conversely, the Middle East and Cen- tral Asia are poised for robust growth of 3.4%, propelled by investments in infrastructure, energy, and technology. Similarly, Latin Amer- ica and the Caribbean, Sub-Saharan Africa, and emerging and developing Asia are projected to experience varying degrees of growth, under- pinned by favorable demographics, infrastruc- ture development, and expanding consumer markets. e inflation outlook anticipates a gradual easing across OECD countries, with annual headline inflation forecasted to decline from 7.0% in 2023 to 5.2% in 2024 and 3.8% Defense Contracts and Supply Chain Resilience e U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) has embarked on a strategic endeavor to for- tify domestic supply chains for printed cir- cuit boards amidst escalating geopolitical ten- sions and concerns over supply chain vulnera- bilities. Noteworthy allocations of $39 million in November 2023 and an additional $115 mil- lion in March 2024, specifically targeting the production of PCBs for hypersonic weapons, underscore the criticality of the PCB indus- try in bolstering national security and defense preparedness. ese investments not only enhance domestic manufacturing capabilities but also emphasize the imperative of collabo- ration between government agencies, defense contractors, and private sector stakeholders in fortifying the resilience and reliability of the U.S. supply chain for critical technologies.