Via Dialogue Earth, a look at how Chinese investment in Latin America is changing – where large infrastructure projects are making way for smaller, more focused investments in areas such as electric vehicles, renewables and high-tech sectors In the past decade, Chinese investment into Latin America has so often been characterised by large infrastructure projects: roads, railways, dams and ports, […]
Read more »Via Project Syndicate, commentary on Iran’s new progressive president, Masoud Pezeshkian, and his recognition that that his country’s economic problems can be resolved only by pursuing better relations with the West and achieving an easing of sanctions. The fact that he was allowed to run, and to win, suggests that those who truly hold power in […]
Read more »Via Australian Institute of International Affairs, a report on China’s mineral pursuit in Afghanistan: As the US-led NATO forces withdrew, China stepped into Afghanistan, focusing on exploiting mineral resources, including lithium, crucial for green technologies like electric vehicle batteries. This move has raised geopolitical tensions and also concerns about the ethical trade-offs between economic development […]
Read more »Via South China Morning Post, an article on closer ties between China and Peru: Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Peruvian counterpart Dina Boluarte have agreed to strengthen economic and technology ties between their two nations, including joint efforts in building a Pacific trade hub. As part of Boluarte’s first state visit to China, the […]
Read more »Via the New York Times, a look at how Kazakhstan’s bounty has enriched the country and grabbed the attention of entrepreneurs scrambling to control the ingredients needed to fight climate change: Kenges Rakishev, one of the richest men in Kazakhstan, stepped off a private jet at a Soviet-era airport and hopped into the lead car […]
Read more »Courtesy of Synaps, commentary on the sustainability – or lack thereof – of Jordan’s water-based economy: Drive through Jordan in springtime, and you could easily forget that the country is among the world’s most water scarce and imports practically all its staple foods. Date groves and greenhouses line the Jordan Valley. Fields of grain sprout […]
Read more »