The DRC Challenge: Excess Logging And Conflict Minerals
September 24th, 2013
Via Ventures Africa, some analysis of extractive industry challenges being faced by the DRC: The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) is considered one of sub-Saharan Africa’s poorest countries. Its GDP per capita estimated at $400, one-tenth that of the Republic of Congo. In terms of export dollars, in 2012 the mineral rich DRC stood $1.07 […]
Read more »The Business of Brewing Beer in Eastern Congo
September 4th, 2013
Via Foreign Policy, an interesting article on the business of beer in the Democratic Republic of Congo: It’s a June night in Kinshasa, and rapper JB Mpiana’s weekly VIP bash is just starting to heat up. Toned groupies splash like mermaids in a sunken pool. Middle-aged businessmen perch on the ledge above to watch. A […]
Read more »Congolia: Comparing Mongolia With Congo
December 12th, 2012
Via Capitalist Exploits, an interesting comparison of In 1997 the Congo, known formerly as Zaire, was in the midst of an all-out blood spilling, slaughtering, raping, no-holds-barred war. Few investors were brave enough to put not only their capital on the line but certainly their own precious selves too. In May of that same year […]
Read more »African Investment: Driven by Terrain?
July 21st, 2008
Via Stratfor (subscription required), an excellent analysis of how the rugged terrain of Sub-Saharan Africa prevents industrialization and modern infrastructure from taking hold and engenders chronic political instability. As a result, the article notes, most foreign investment goes to resource extraction, especially offshore projects protected from the disruptions that are rife on land: “…Foreign direct […]
Read more »An Unlikely Alliance: ‘Vulture’ Investors and Anti-Corruption Advocates in Emerging Markets
December 11th, 2007
From The International Herald Tribune, an interesting article on how ‘vulture’ investors may be making an unlikely & unanticipated contribution in the fight against corruption in developing countries such as the Republic of Congo. While I tend to view creditor litigation against developing countries as somewhat distasteful, given the development & economic burdens such nations […]
Read more »Mr. Li, I Presume?
December 6th, 2007
Via TerraDaily, an article on China’s active engagement of the Democratic Republic of Congo, a troubled nation with huge but largely untapped natural resources such as 34 percent of the world’s known cobalt reserves, 10 percent of its copper, vast forests full of timber and a treasure trove of gold and diamonds. This is just […]
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.