A Glimpse Into Indonesia’s Nickel Policy
August 23rd, 2024
Via the Lowy Institute, a look at Indonesia’ nickel industry and China’s involvement therein: Since 2020, Indonesia has tried to transform itself from an exporter of nickel into a key player in the global nickel value chain by banning exports of the raw material in an effort to incentivise nickel customers to invest in “downstream” […]
Read more »How Ethiopia’s currency float and IMF deal are powering economic reform
August 22nd, 2024
Via The Africa Report, an article on how privatisation, foreign property ownership, and a new stock exchange expected to transform the nation’s economic landscape as the pace of reform in PM Ahmed Abiy’s government regains momentum. Ethiopia is gearing up to relaunch its economic reform agenda after floating its currency and securing a $3.4bn IMF […]
Read more »Laos Special Economic Zone Was Supposed to Be an Economic Hub. It Became a Criminal’s Paradise
August 22nd, 2024
Via Bloomberg, a podcast on how the Golden Triangle Special Economic Zone in Laos became a notorious hub for drugs, scammers and human traffickers: Oanh Ha: On the banks of the Mekong River in Laos — there’s a startling sight — after traveling through small plantations of coffee and bananas — a winding road descends […]
Read more »Uzbekistan Forges Ahead, Deepening Relations With Taliban-ruled Afghanistan
August 21st, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report on a growing relationship between Uzbekistan and Afghanistan: On Saturday, August 17 Uzbek Prime Minister Abdulla Aripov became the highest-ranking foreign leader to visit Afghanistan since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power. The $2.5 billion in trade and investment deals signed between the two sides, just days after the third […]
Read more »Southeast Asia’s Old Airports Taking Off Once Again
August 21st, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, an article on Southeast Asia’s old airports which are revving back to life: Since last year, Indonesian airline TransNusa has routinely shuttled passengers between Jakarta and Kuala Lumpur two to three times each day. But when its Airbus A320 plane touched down outside Malaysia’s commercial capital on Aug. 1, it was hailed […]
Read more »The U.S.-Backed Railway Sparking A Battle For African Copper
August 21st, 2024
Courtesy of The Financial Times, a look at how Washington’s support for a minerals train connecting the DRC to the Atlantic illustrates its desire to compete with China: As the US ambassador’s car pulled into a port terminal on Angola’s Atlantic coast last month, the longshoremen queueing for work were ecstatic at the sight of […]
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.