China Plans $2B Investment In Syria
July 12th, 2017
Via the Times of Central Asia, a report on China’s $2 billion investment plan for Syria: China plans to invest $2 billion in the creation of an industrial park in Syria that will initially bring together 150 Chinese companies, Qin Yong, the deputy chairman of the China-Arab Exchange Association, announced on July 9 during the first […]
Read more »The Blackwater of Jihad
February 10th, 2017
Via Foreign Policy, an interesting article on a consortium of elite, well-paid fighters from across the former Soviet Union who are training jihadis in Syria: Heavily armed and expertly kitted with body armor and ballistic helmets, the men can be seen defending bunkers, storming buildings, and even posing by whiteboards giving tactical lessons. Though the titles […]
Read more »Investing In Syria’s Future
February 6th, 2017
Courtesy of STRATFOR (subscription required), a look at Syria’s economic future: Forecast The crippled state of Syria’s economy risks weakening the remaining loyalist support for the government in Damascus. The international involvement in the country’s civil war will leave Damascus with few partners that it can trust to help with its reconstruction efforts. Iran’s investments in […]
Read more »Iran’s Guards Corps To Operate Mobile Service In Syria
January 18th, 2017
Via Al Arabiya, a report on Iran’s business engagement in Syria: Iran will be granted a license to become a mobile service operator in Syria under agreements to expand economic ties between the countries. Five memorandums of understanding were signed at a ceremony attended by Syrian Prime Minister Emad Khamis and Iranian Vice President Eshaq […]
Read more »Isis Inc: Loot & Taxes Keep Jihadi Economy Churning
December 15th, 2015
Via The Financial Times, a report on the role that looting and taxes play in keeping the terrorist movement funded: Even under jihadi rule, death and taxes remain the two great certainties of life. Some learn that the hard way. As Isis officials announced a religious tithe known as zakat last summer, Mansour, a 26-year-old grocery storekeeper in eastern […]
Read more »MTN: Syria Calling
August 7th, 2014
Courtesy of the Financial Times, a report on MTN’s plans to acquire a mobile phone license in Syria: Syria’s capital Damascus MTN is pressing ahead with plans to acquire a 20-year mobile phone licence in Syria, in spite of the four-year civil conflict in the Arab nation that has seen thousands killed. Africa’s biggest mobile […]
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.