BRICS: A Bad Bet For ASEAN Economies
August 31st, 2024
Via Nikkei Asia, commentary on why Indonesia is right to reject the bloc for economic, geographic and geopolitical reasons: The allure of joining the BRICS economic bloc has captured the attention of several Southeast Asian nations, such as Malaysia, Thailand, the Philippines and Vietnam. But beyond the headline-grabbing potential of increased trade and investment, crucial […]
Read more »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 »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 »Indonesia’s Solution To Overcrowding: Carve A New Capital Out Of The Jungle
August 17th, 2024
Courtesy of the Los Angeles Times, a report on Indonesia’s new capital: Indonesia is carving a new capital city — called Nusantara — out of the tropical rainforest to escape the urban issues of Jakarta, including extreme traffic, pollution and flooding. Like many of the world’s megacities, Jakarta has mega-problems. Two-hour commutes are a way of life. […]
Read more »The True Cost of China’s Hold On Indonesia’s Nickel
August 12th, 2024
Via the Asia Times, a report on how Indonesia’s EV-fueled nickel industry has morphed into an ‘oligopsony’, where Chinese buyers drive and dominate market dynamics: During the 43rd ASEAN Summit in Jakarta on September 5-7, 2023, Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Vice President Kamala Harris discussed the potential for a US-Indonesia Critical Minerals Specific Free Trade Agreement […]
Read more »Indonesian Fishermen Use A Government AI Tool To Find Their Daily Catch
August 9th, 2024
Via Rest of World, a look at how Indonesian government agency is using AI to help the fishing industry: Government agency BRIN has taken the lead on AI applications for everyday use. Indonesia lags in AI use, even as Microsoft, Nvidia, and Open AI invest. Data safety is a major concern, with Indonesia a frequent […]
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.