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 »Pakistan Leads South Asia in Infrastructure Investments; Among Top 5 in the World
December 8th, 2020
Via South Asia Investor Review, a look at Pakistan’s infrastructure investment: Pakistan led South Asia region and ranked 4th in the world in infrastructure investment commitments in the first half of 2020, according to World Bank’s “Private Participation in Infrastructure” report for the first half on the year 2020. Mexico led the pack with $4,016 […]
Read more »The Secret Scheme To Skim Millions Off Central Asia’s Pipeline Megaproject
December 4th, 2020
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an insightful look at a secret scheme to skim millions off central Asia’s pipeline megaproject: A Gazprom director profited from a secret scheme linked to the construction of a multibillion-dollar gas pipeline between central Asia and China, according to documents seen by the Financial Times. The documents indicate that staff and consultants […]
Read more »The Crackdown on the North Korean Market Economy: What Does It Really Mean?
December 1st, 2020
Via North Korea Economic Watch, commentary on some recent events suggesting a North Korean government crackdown against the market economy: Is the North Korean government cracking down on the market economy as such? I would argue that we are not quite there yet, but an ever-increasing number of news seem to be suggesting that economic policy […]
Read more »China Diversifies in Central Asia
November 30th, 2020
Via Eurasianet.com, a look at how Beijing has adopted a new economic model for Central Asia, investing less in major infrastructure and spreading its risk: Roads, pipelines, coal-fired power plants: not so much anymore. Beijing has changed course. It now rarely funds major infrastructure projects in Central Asia. Instead the People’s Republic has shifted to manufacturing: […]
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.