At one point, it looked as if an area of agreement would . . . . . . . ., specially over the issue of productivity linked wages.

The correct answer is: emerge.

Emerge means to come into view or existence. In this case, it means that it looked like there would be an agreement on the issue of productivity linked wages.

The other options are:

• Grow: to increase in size or number. This does not make sense in the context of the sentence, as it is not talking about the size or number of agreements.
• Develop: to grow or change gradually. This also does not make sense in the context of the sentence, as it is not talking about the growth or change of an agreement.
• Come out: to become known or public. This does not make sense in the context of the sentence, as it is not talking about the knowledge or publicity of an agreement.