Xi Calls Indonesia High-Speed Rail a ‘Gold Standard’ of Ties
April 2nd, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, an article on the early success of Indonesia’s high speed rail line and Jakarta’s consideration of extending the China-backed line as passengers cross 2m in 6 months: Indonesia’s first high-speed railway — a 140-kilometer Beijing-backed project connecting Jakarta and Bandung — has become a “gold standard” of bilateral cooperation, Chinese President Xi […]
Read more »Forget Florida, Brazil Is The Orange Empire
April 2nd, 2024
Via Latinometrics, an interesting look at Brazil’s rise as the world’s orange leader and new competition: To give you a sense of just how vast Brazil and its farming capabilities are, consider that at one point, until the year 2000, its orange farmland was larger than the entire island of Puerto Rico. Fast-forward to today — […]
Read more »China’s Increasing Involvement in Africa: Progressive or Retrogressive?
April 2nd, 2024
Via The Africa Report, commentary on the impact of China’s increasing involvement in Africa: Sino-Africa relations keep growing but analysts express concern that Chinese efforts in Africa that include exploitation of natural resources, and increasing market access on the continent have pros and cons. China says its loans to African countries are beneficial and promises […]
Read more »Puntland to Operate Independently From Somalia After Law Change
April 2nd, 2024
Via Bloomberg, a report on Puntland and Somalia: Regional council says federal constitution illegally replaced Council wants referendum on changes to Somali constitution The oil-rich, semiautonomous region of Puntland said it will operate as a state that’s independent from Somalia until changes to the Somali constitution adopted on Saturday are approved via a popular referendum. […]
Read more »Poor Nations Are Writing a New Handbook for Getting Rich
April 2nd, 2024
Courtesy of the New York Times, an article on how economies focused on exports have lifted millions out of poverty, but epochal changes in trade, supply chains and technology are making it a lot harder: For more than half a century, the handbook for how developing countries can grow rich hasn’t changed much: Move subsistence […]
Read more »Will Vietnam’s Political Turmoil Shake Up Foreign Investment?
April 2nd, 2024
Courtesy of Foreign Policy, an article on how the Vietnamese president’s abrupt resignation suggests uncertainty, but it should not sow doubt about Hanoi’s economy or engagement with the world: Last month, a delegation of around 50 U.S. businesses—among them major players such as Boeing and Meta—traveled to Vietnam to explore investment opportunities. Their visit was […]
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.