Beijing to Bangkok Train Just a Few Links from Reality
August 20th, 2024
Via Asia Times, a report on a Belt and Road Initiative-backed train connecting China to mainland Southeast Asia which is finally nearly done after years of delays and resistance: A Bangkok to Beijing train journey became one clickity-clack link closer with the completion by Thailand and Laos of a Mekong River railway bridge and tracks […]
Read more »Thailand’s ‘Land Bridge’ Solution to China’s ‘Malacca Dilemma’
August 15th, 2024
Via The Asia Times, commentary advocating for the US to help finance Thai ‘land bridge’ project to prevent it from falling under China’s control and influence: The proposed route of Thailand’s emerging land bridge project. Image: X Screengrab Last month, two vessels struggling to push through the overcrowded Strait of Malacca collided, reviving interest in alternative […]
Read more »India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway: Road To Regional Economic Connectivity
August 6th, 2024
Via East Asia Forum, a report on the India–Myanmar–Thailand Trilateral Highway which aims to bolster regional economic integration and expand India’s influence in Southeast Asia. But despite its potential benefits, the project has faced significant delays due to political instability in Myanmar, financial constraints and security concerns. Ethnic conflict and bureaucratic hurdles have further complicated […]
Read more »China’s Demand for Durian Is Creating Fortunes in Southeast Asia
June 17th, 2024
Courtesy of the New York Times, a report on how demand for durian – known for its rich taste and intense smell – has reshaped parts of Southeast Asia, where it has long been a staple: Before he started a company 15 years ago selling the world’s smelliest fruit, Eric Chan had a well-paying job […]
Read more »Japan’s Convenience Store Chains Chase Growth Across Asia
June 7th, 2024
Courtesy of Nikkei Asia, an interesting article on Japan’s convenience store chains having to look abroad in Asia for more growth: It’s 50 years since Kenji Yamamoto opened the doors at what would become part of the fabric of Japan: the country’s first modern-day convenience store. But 50 years from now, Japan’s population is projected […]
Read more »Thailand’s Soft Power Splash
April 25th, 2024
Via East Asia Forum, a report on Thailand’s soft power splash: The Thai government under Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has made soft power — the ability to influence others through attraction rather than coercion — a cornerstone of its economic agenda. To help kickstart a stagnant Thai economy, the government is focusing on the economic […]
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.