Africa’s Latest Unicorn, MNT-Halan, Answers A Very Important Question
February 8th, 2023
Via TechCabal, a look at Africa’s latest unicorn, MNT-Halan: MNT-Halan, an Egyptian startup bundling fintech and e-commerce, has snagged a billion dollars valuation at the back of a $400 million financing. The startup is now Africa’s 8th unicorn, joining a list that includes Nigerian Flutterwave and Senegalese Wave. This announcement hints that Africa is back to […]
Read more »In North Korea, Almighty US Dollar Still Reigns Supreme
February 8th, 2023
Via NK News, commentary on how repeated currency reforms have eroded trust in the DPRK won, making foreign money essential for many transactions: North Korea has long allowed an unusual degree of private trade in foreign currency for a communist bloc country, and a new study has shone a light on just how common it […]
Read more »Digital Infrastructure Propels New SE Asian Tigers
February 7th, 2023
Courtesy of the Asia Times, a report on how China’s trade with Southeast Asia is driving a world-beating economic boom: China’s exports to Southeast Asia jumped by 20% in 2022, despite a year-on-year decline in China’s total exports driven by a 19% drop in exports to the US and a 17% drop in exports to the […]
Read more »Russia and Iran Integrate Banking Systems To Avoid Western Sanctions
February 7th, 2023
Via Frontier Markets News, an article on efforts by Russia and Iran to integrate their banking systems: Iran and Russia have connected their interbank communication and transfer systems to help boost trade and financial transactions, a senior Iranian official said on Monday, as Tehran and Moscow struggle under Western sanctions, the NYT’s Cora Engelbrecht reports. The financial […]
Read more »Billions in Oil Riches Vanish in Latin America as Pemex Stumbles
February 7th, 2023
Courtesy of Bloomberg, a report on how Pemex has seen its crude output decline almost every year since 2004 as mismanagement, debt and failing projects drag down Mexico’s oil giant: The rebound in oil prices over the last two years brought in record profits for the world’s largest crude producers, shoring up local economies and boosting jobs. Despite the fanfare, […]
Read more »China Builds Influence By Building African Parliaments
February 7th, 2023
Via Global Policy Journal, an interesting look at how China has fully financed the construction of at least 15 new African parliamentary buildings and refurbished several others: In 2005, during Prime Minister Pakalitha Mosisili’s visit to Beijing, China offered to pay for the construction of a new Lesotho parliament building. The Lesotho government had identified […]
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.