The West Is Laser-Focused on Central Asia’s Middle Corridor. So Is China.
June 20th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a look at the Middle Corridor but – for more commodities to move west from Central Asia – better infrastructure, more inter-agency cooperation, and modern customs systems are necessary: The U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Kathleen Tai visited Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in mid-June, the first time a USTR has ever visited the Central Asian region. […]
Read more »Monaco has the Oldest Population in the World, Niger the Youngest
June 20th, 2024
Via Voronoi, a graphical look at the world’s oldest and youngest countries by median age, per 2024 estimates from the CIA World Factbook: Key Takeaways Monaco and Japan—two countries with high life expectancies and low birth rates—have some of the highest median ages (50+) in the world, indicating that the population as a whole is […]
Read more »Japanese Ice Cream Melts Hearts in Asia with Record Exports
June 20th, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, a look at the growing popularity of Japanese ice cream melts hearts in Asia, where Taiwan is top overseas market, with Malaysia emerging as new battleground: Japan’s ice cream industry has been hot since last summer, fueled by scorching temperatures and record-high shipments to Taiwan and other markets. Sales of the frozen […]
Read more »China Is Building Europe Battery Supply in Morocco
June 20th, 2024
Via Bloomberg, a report that China is building its European battery supply in Morocco: Less-expensive LFP batteries gaining use in electric cars Jorf Lasfar site aims to produce cell materials next year China is building a battery supply chain for Europe in Morocco, as the continent struggles to develop its own industry to feed electric-car […]
Read more »Sierre Leone’s $150M Digital Hub Strategy
June 18th, 2024
Via Semafor, a report on Sierre Leone’s digital hub investment strategy: Sierra Leone is seeking to raise up to $150 million to roll out a far reaching digital innovation strategy led by a new Tech City hub. The plan incorporates job creation, training, entrepreneurship, and efforts to attract investment. Technology minister Salima Bah, who is […]
Read more »Serbia Could Mine Lithium As Early As 2028
June 18th, 2024
Via Energy Daily, a report on Serbia’s lithium ambitions: President Aleksandar Vucic said Serbia could exploit lithium as early as 2028 following new guarantees from Australian mining giant Rio Tinto and the EU over the controversial project, the Financial Times reported on Sunday.According to Rio Tinto, Jadar in western Serbia holds one of Europe’s largest […]
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.