This week I take a whistle-stop tour of the near east and China’s relations with the countries in this region, some of which have intriguing international ambitions of their own. Azerbaijan This oil rich state has attracted significant interest from China and bilateral… Read More ›
At a time when Europe and other parts of the world are governed by forgettable mediocrities, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Turkey’s prime minister for a decade now, seethes with ambition. Perhaps the only other leader of a major world nation who… Read More ›
This new report entitled “The Economic Engagement Footprint of Rising Powers in sub-Saharan Africa: Trade, FDI and Aid Flows” published by the Institute of Development Studies sheds new light on the role of Rising Powers in Africa. While there has… Read More ›
Turkmenistan holds the world’s fourth largest gas reserves; from the Galkynysh Field huge black pipes thread their way east across the vast searing deserts of the country, going on to power Chinese homes and factories. Just like railways, the construction… Read More ›
Breakout Nations Ruchir Sharma uses his own unique methodology with this look into a crystal ball as he tries to predict which countries will be the next to experience high rates of economic growth. By looking at a wide range of factors, demographic,… Read More ›
Aside from trade and economic development in emerging markets, social and cultural trends are increasingly important and will affect not only the country of origin but will spill over to other parts of the world. Nollywood Nollywood, the commonly used… Read More ›
The prospect of a lasting peace is attracting more investor interest in the conflict stricken African state of Somalia. The country is largely virgin territory for international investors, but despite the apparent chaos companies like Coca Cola, Turkish Airlines and… Read More ›
A trip to Astana, the architecturally stunning, yet soulless new capital of Kazakhstan for the EBRD Annual Meeting (a major political and economic event in the region), gave me an opportunity to think about the geopolitical landscape of Central Asia…. Read More ›
Russia and Brazil are going to do it, China and South Africa have already done it and Turkey is a big contender for the future. For once I’m not talking about a new economic or financial milestone, but instead the… Read More ›
The Turkish PM Recep Erdogan and his family made a dramatic trip to the war torn Somali capital Mogadishu earlier this year. Only the bravest or most foolhardy pilots will risk landing at the city’s airport, which is often at… Read More ›
