The Struggle For A “Monster” Lithium Deposit
May 20th, 2022
Via Week In China, an article on the struggle for a “monster” lithium deposit in Africa: Chinese ambitions to take control of the biggest lithium mine in Africa looked dead in the water in April 2020 after Canberra blocked the ASX-listed miner AVZ Minerals from selling an 11.8% stake to Chinese firms including CATL (see […]
Read more »Timor-Leste: Stormy Economic Waters Ahead
May 20th, 2022
Via The Interpreter, a look at Timor Leste’s economic future: This week, Timor-Leste will celebrate its 20th anniversary as an independent nation and inaugurate Jose Ramos-Horta as its new president. Since re-gaining independence in 2002, the world’s third-youngest nation has built a functioning state and vibrant democracy from near-scratch amid trials and tribulations that would challenge any nation. Timor-Leste […]
Read more »Iran Opens Drone Factory In Tajikistan
May 20th, 2022
Via Al Monitor, an article on Iran’s growing relationship with Tajikistan: Iran unveiled a factory in Tajikistan today that will produce drones. The factory in the Tajik capital Dushanbe will manufacture Abagil 2 drones. Iranian military Chief of Staff Maj. Gen. Mohammad Bagheri attended the ceremony, reported the official Islamic Republic News Agency. “We are in a […]
Read more »Will Russia Complete Iran’s Rasht–Astara Railway?
May 19th, 2022
Via Jamestown Foundation, a report on Russia’s interest in Iran’s Rasht–Astara Railway: The Russo-Ukrainian war has had a direct impact on the status of the various China–Central Asia–Russia–Europe transit corridors that traverse Eurasia. The Northern Corridor branch of China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), in particular, has faced serious challenges and limitations, forcing a halt […]
Read more »Central Asian Economies Don’t Need Russia
May 19th, 2022
Via East Asia Forum, an article on Central Asian economies: In 1991, the five Central Asian economies were republics of the Soviet Union, with trade and transport oriented towards Russia. Over three decades of independence, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have built railways, roads and pipelines to the east and south and […]
Read more »China’s Belt and Road Initiative In Kenya
May 19th, 2022
Via Foreign Policy Research Institute, commentary on China’s BRI in Kenya: Through trade, investment, and strategic diplomacy, China is re-shaping sub-Saharan Africa. Beijing has growing economic ties with Africa’s largest economies and Chinese firms dominate infrastructure construction projects. In 2020, nearly one-third of infrastructure projects in Africa worth at least $50 million were built by Chinese companies. […]
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.