Vietnam’s Catch-22 In Courting China As Rare Earth Partner
May 17th, 2024
Via South China Morning Post, commentary on Vietnam’s Catch-22 in courting China as a rare earth partner: In many ways, Beijing is the perfect partner for Hanoi’s rare earth processing industry ambitions But standing in the way is Vietnam’s wariness of corporate exploitation and taking sides in the US-China rivalry, as well as its political […]
Read more »India’s Greatest Export: Curry
May 17th, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, a look at the global curry trail across continents where variations of the traditional Tamil dish have conquered the culinary world: Curries vary by type and flavor not only from country to country, but from home to home. (All photos by Meenakshi J) “This Jaffna curry powder is freshly prepared,” said the […]
Read more »The Super Peso
May 17th, 2024
Courtesy of Latinometrics, a look at how the Mexican peso is outshining the rest of the world: First, there’s the good: Mexican businesses and consumers can buy foreign goods, invest, and travel more inexpensively, leading to stronger commercial relationships and quality of life. Also, as foreign investors expect the peso to continue rising (thanks largely […]
Read more »Gazprom’s Declining Fortunes Spell Trouble for Moscow
May 15th, 2024
Via Foreign Policy, an article on why Gazprom’s record loss should worry the Kremlin on several fronts: At the end of 2022, Dmitry Medvedev—Russia’s former prime minister and the current deputy chairman of its Security Council—offered his predictions for the coming year. He warned that Europeans would suffer badly from Russia’s decision to curb natural […]
Read more »Privatization in Uzbekistan: Potential Far From Fulfilled
May 15th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report that – while some progress has been made – foreign investors are starting to wonder if Uzbekistan’s privatization agenda will ever live up to its much-lauded potential: In early May, Uzbekistan’s capital played host to the Tashkent International Investment Forum. The third installment of the annual event, which cost an […]
Read more »Brazilian Niobium Carves Out An Energy Niche
May 15th, 2024
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an article on Brazilian niobium: Among Brazil’s abundant mineral riches — from iron ore and gold to precious stones and copper — is one niche metal that almost no other country can claim to produce at scale: niobium. The dominant producer, Companhia Brasileira de Metalurgia e Mineração (CBMM), is exploring new […]
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.