India Gaining Foothold In Central Asia As Iran’s Chabahar Port Attracts New Foreign Partners
December 14th, 2020
Via Eurasian Times, an article on the Chabahar Port which is close to Pakistan’s Gwadar Port that is being developed by China as part of its China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, which links it to the Indian Ocean through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI): Chabahar port is back in the news as India, Uzbekistan, and Iran are […]
Read more »Lebanon’s Concrete Cartel
December 12th, 2020
Via Foreign Policy, a look at how business interests prevent Lebanon from rebuilding its infrastructure, government, and economy: Even after decades, the international community still has not quite figured out what makes Lebanese politicians tick. Potential donors focus on economic mismanagement and political will, but gloss over the shady commercial interests that keep sectarian leaders popular. […]
Read more »China’s Footprints in Kazakhstan’s Oil and Gas Industry
December 12th, 2020
Via The Diplomat, an article on Beijing’s pursuit of shifting its trade and energy dependencies from sea to land: In the long term, Kazakhstan is the most important partner for China’s strategic priority to shift trade and energy dependence from sea to land. Both sides are enthusiastic about deepening cooperation, especially in trade. But an overwhelming […]
Read more »Ethiopia’s Once-Golden Economy Loses Its Luster
December 12th, 2020
Courtesy of The Wall Street Journal, a look at how – facing war, virus and locusts – Ethiopia’s once-golden economy has lost its luster: For the past decade Ethiopia has boasted of one of the world’s fastest-growing economies, welcoming billions of dollars in foreign direct investment from the U.S. and China and lifting more than 20 million […]
Read more »The Source of The Taliban’s Money
December 12th, 2020
Via The Conversation, a report on where the Taliban get their money: The Taliban militants of Afghanistan have grown richer and more powerful since their fundamentalist Islamic regime was toppled by U.S. forces in 2001. In the fiscal year that ended in March 2020, the Taliban reportedly brought in US$1.6 billion, according to Mullah Yaqoob, son of […]
Read more »China and Afghanistan In A Belt & Road Context
December 11th, 2020
Via Asia Power Watch, an article on China’s economic influence in Afghanistan in a Belt & Road context: As the historic intra-Afghan negotiations continue and the withdrawal of US troops is now in sight, there are plausible concerns about the future of Afghanistan, especially about China’s willingness to expand and consolidate its engagement in the country. […]
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.