Archive for 2017

Iran Swiftly Moving Towards a Knowledge-Based Economy

Via Techrasa, a preliminary look at Iran’s move towards a knowledge-based economy: A report recently published by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) revealed that Iran has made significant progress towards a knowledge-based economy, powered by science and innovation. However, the report indicates that certain measures should be taken to fully harness […]

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Fish-Trading Pioneers of North Korea’s Market Economy

Via NK News (subscription required), an interesting look at how “running traders” during the 1990s laid the groundwork for the DPRK’s fledging private markets: I want to introduce you, readers, to Ms. Pak (not her real name, of course), a North Korean small trader. She left her country about a decade ago, but back in […]

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Southeast Asia In China’s Belt and Road Initiative

Courtesy of STRATFOR (subscription required), a detailed analysis of Southeast Asia’s position in China’s Belt and Road initiative: Southeast Asia is the pivot of China’s sprawling 65-nation Belt and Road Initiative. The region’s growing markets, numerous manufacturing hubs and abundant natural resources offer Beijing a wealth of economic opportunities. But its greater value to China is […]

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Iran’s Railway Revolution

Via ReconnectingAsia, a detailed look at Iran’s railway revolution: If he were alive today, Darius the Great would have cheered the commissioning by Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev in March of a new railway connecting their countries. The fifth century Persian king was able to dominate much of West Asia in […]

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South Asia: A Bump in the Belt and Road

Courtesy of STRATFOR (subscription required), a detailed analysis of South Asia’s involvement in China’s OBOR program: As part of its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, China is looking to build new inroads into South Asia. The region is rife with opportunity for Beijing. By establishing new security and economic connections with neighboring South Asian countries, China […]

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Why China’s One Belt, One Road Matters for Afghanistan

Via South Asian Voices, commentary on the impact of OBOR on Afghanistan: As the Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation takes place in Beijing this weekend, a high-level delegation from Kabul will be in attendance with the hope of hastening the implementation of many infrastructure projects in Afghanistan. China has already become the large source of foreign direct […]

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WILDCATS AND BLACK SHEEP
Wildcats & Black Sheep is a personal interest blog dedicated to the identification and evaluation of maverick investment opportunities arising in frontier - and, what some may consider to be, “rogue” or “black sheep” - markets around the world.

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.