Beyond Geopolitics: The Domestic Drivers of China-Iran Cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative
May 23rd, 2025
Via The Diplomat, a look at how the alignment of domestic socioeconomic interests is a key driver for continued Sino-Iranian cooperation, despite U.S.-led sanctions: More than a decade after the announcement of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), its transformation of global supply chains and trade flows has garnered significant attention. Nevertheless, despite being identified as a crucial country […]
Read more »China: The World’s First Electrostate?
May 20th, 2025
Courtesy of The Financial Times, an excellent article with compelling graphs about China’s long march towards national electrification: China could be on its way to becoming the world’s first major “electrostate”, with its electrification rate climbing to 30 per cent, ahead of the EU and US where electricity as a final share of energy has […]
Read more »China Turns To PPP To Fund Big Projects In Africa
May 19th, 2025
Via South China Morning Post, a look at how Chinese companies are teaming up with African governments to fund infrastructure while reducing financial risk and easing debt pressure: China has turned to public-private partnerships (PPP) to finance big African infrastructure projects under a grand China investment initiative, a shift experts said could reduce Beijing’s financial risks while easing debt […]
Read more »Ethiopia Signs Minerals, Energy Deals Worth $1.7 billion, Chiefly With Chinese Firms
May 17th, 2025
Via Reuters, an article on recent investments into Ethiopia’s minerals and energy sector: Ethiopia has signed investment deals for its minerals and energy sectors worth more than $1.7 billion, mostly with Chinese firms, its finance ministry said. The East African nation, which struck a four-year, $3.4 billion program deal with the International Monetary Fund last […]
Read more »Colombia Moves to Join China’s Belt and Road
May 10th, 2025
Via France24, a look at Colombia’s move to join China’s Belt and Road: Colombia’s president on Tuesday said he intends to sign an accord to join Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative during an upcoming China trip, a move sure to damage already frayed relations with Washington. Leftist leader Gustavo Petro said he would sign a […]
Read more »Why China Is Investing So Much Money in Moroccan Factories
May 7th, 2025
Courtesy of the New York Times, a report on how Morocco is linked to Europe on the strength of its auto sector and a trade pact. But its status as a connector country has become precarious in the trade war: When Xi Jinping, China’s top leader, returned from the Group of 20 summit in Brazil […]
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.