South Korea’s Railway Ambitions in Central Asia
August 17th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report on a recent agreement between South Korea and Tajikistan to start a feasibility study for a rail route that would connect Tajikistan via Afghanistan to routes both east and west: Earlier this month South Korea and Tajikistan signed an agreement to start a feasibility study for the Jaloliddini Balkhi-Jayhun-Nizhny Panj Railway project. […]
Read more »Can Central Asia Deepen Multilateral Cooperation Without Institutionalization?
August 14th, 2024
Via The Diplomat, a report on the sixth consultative meeting of the Central Asian leaders concluded without a major breakthrough, but recent Kazakh-Uzbek bilateral agreements could be the key to deepening cooperation in the region: In 2024, Astana became a hub for a series of pivotal meetings that each marked as a significant “first” in […]
Read more »Tajikistan: Without Reform, Central Asia’s Growth Champion Faces Tougher Times
July 18th, 2024
Via Emerging Europe, a report on Tajikistan: In order for Tajikistan to ensure sustainable development, it needs to implement structural reforms focused on enhancing economic openness and competitive neutrality, and improve public sector governance, transparency and accountability for better public service delivery. With the highest growth rate of any economy in Central and Eastern Europe […]
Read more »Central Asia: The Once and Future Heart of Eurasia
July 4th, 2024
Via Geopolitical Monitor, a report on Central Asia: In recent decades, the portrayal of the five former Soviet Central Asian states—collectively known as the “stans”—in Western media and policy discourse has often been overly simplistic, neglecting their unique identities, historical legacies, and rich cultural diversity. These nations are frequently depicted as objects in a larger […]
Read more »The United States Tells China to Kick Rocks in Central Asia
July 3rd, 2024
Via East Asia Forum, commentary on U.S. efforts to diversify its supply chain for critical minerals and reduce its dependence on China by establishing partnerships with Central Asian republics, though it anticipates various challenges. In particular, China’s restrictions on gallium and germanium exports and significant economic influence in the region raise concerns. The United States, […]
Read more »Chinese Megaprojects Back In Fashion In Central Asia’s Poorest States
June 30th, 2024
Via Radio Free Europe, a look at Chinese mega investments in Central Asia: For most of the last two decades, China has been the most obvious source of foreign direct investment for the countries of Central Asia. But for the two poorest countries of the region — Kyrgyzstan and Tajikistan — truly strategic investment from […]
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.