After several years of crisis and concern, the market for the top international design firms from around the world began to pick up in 2003. Regions where tensions had been highest, like the Middle East and Africa, finally began to relent to pent-up demand. But concerns remain about security, corruption and increasing competition, particularly from firms in host countries.
For ENRs Top 200 International Design Firms, 2003 was a good year, with revenue from projects based outside their home countries up by 11.3%, to $21.99 billion, from $18.86 billion in 2002.