Once a Bright Spot, Afghan Telecoms Face Unsustainable Losses
April 9th, 2016
Via the New York Times, a sobering look at the Afghan mobile phone sector: Men thread their way through this city’s traffic jams, hawking streamers of phone cards. Others stand behind crude wooden tables selling cheap Chinese-made mobile phones. Throngs of people navigate the sidewalks and streets with cellphones pressed to their ears. The boom […]
Read more »Sub Saharan Africa’s Brightest Spots For Doing Business
April 6th, 2016
Via EMIA, a look at Nigeria, Kenya, and Mauritius: Africa is viewed as a highly challenging environment to do business in. Despite this, however, Africa’s growing frontier markets have become increasingly significant to the world’s economy. Comprehensive economic reforms, improving business environments, effective political reforms and good governance have all promoted foreign investment and contributed […]
Read more »Somalia: Rising From The Ashes
April 4th, 2016
Via the United Nations’ Africa Renewal magazine, an updated look at Somalia: These days Somalis reminisce about life before the war. With a sense of nostalgia they reflect on the carefree days of swimming, picnics and cinema; when children were in school, the economy was growing and business was booming, providing jobs for thousands of […]
Read more »China: Trading Its “String of Pearls” For Increased Engagement With Myanmar?
April 3rd, 2016
Courtesy of Eurasia Review, a look at China’s growing strategic engagement of Myanmar: China, of late, has been pitching to increase its influence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) through Myanmar. As an emerging maritime power in the Indo-Pacific, China is seeking a legitimate presence in the IOR. However, it faces connectivity dilemma in its […]
Read more »New Frontiers In An Ancient Land: Iran’s Emerging Hospitality Market
April 3rd, 2016
Via Lexology, a detailed look at Iran’s emerging hospitality market: Iran sits at the cross roads of civilizations. Once, the seat of the great Persian Empire with its rich, ancient and enchanting historical narrative, the country has always retained a lasting allure to the visitor. From the ruins of the Persian Empire in Persepolis in […]
Read more »Looted Lender For Sale: Afghanistan Seeks Buyer For New Kabul Bank
March 24th, 2016
Via Bloomberg, an interesting report on Afghanistan’s renewed efforts to sell New Kabul Bank: For sale: One bank with 114 branches in war-torn country; defrauded out of almost all its money; occasional target of terrorists. Ready to bid? That’s what Ashraf Ghani, president of Afghanistan, is hoping. He’s seeking a buyer for Kabul Bank, once the […]
Read more »Focusing primarily on The New Seven Sisters - the largely state owned petroleum companies from the emerging world that have become key players in the oil & gas industry as identified by Carola Hoyos, Chief Energy Correspondent for The Financial Times - but spanning other nascent opportunities around the globe that may hold potential in the years ahead, Wildcats & Black Sheep is a place for the adventurous to contemplate & evaluate the emerging markets of tomorrow.