A recent survey of institutional investors suggests that companies in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region are gaining significant attention from North American markets and are poised to enhance their standing in global equity indices soon.

According to the findings from New York-based consultancy InspIR Connect, portfolio managers believe the GCC will overtake the Latin American market in rankings such as the MSCI and FTSE indices within the next decade.

Jeff Tewlow, Managing Director at InspIR Connect, said in a statement that the GCC will become the fastest-growing segment of emerging market capital over the next five years. He added that the region is projected to surpass Latin America in representation on the MSCI and FTSE indices.

The survey analyzed the perspectives of North American investors managing $16 trillion in assets. The findings revealed that over half of the respondents held an underweight position in the region compared to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. This suggests a significant untapped potential for the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region to attract North American equity capital.

“Our research involving leading institutional investors from the US and Canada highlights a growing interest in GCC companies,” said Tewlow. “This presents a remarkable opportunity to access the vast equity capital resources in North America.”