Preparing for Ukraine’s Reconstruction by Reducing Risk for Private Funding
Ukraine faces a massive reconstruction task estimated at $300 billion. McKinsey argues that unlocking private capital will require systematic risk‑reduction tools such as sovereign guarantees, insurance pools, and blended‑finance structures. The firm proposes a dedicated reconstruction fund, streamlined procurement, and a transparent legal framework to attract institutional investors. Early pilots in energy and housing sectors already show how de‑risking can mobilise private money.
SGX to Launch Asia-Pacific Government Bond Futures- #Wealth #AssetManagement #AssetFinance
The Singapore Exchange (SGX) will debut Asia‑Pacific government bond futures on 20 April, covering sovereign bonds from India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. The contracts, margined and settled in US dollars, offer three maturities—three, five and ten years—based on FTSE Russell’s...
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan Tout Themselves as “Strategic Tandem”
Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan are moving from rivalry to partnership, branding their relationship as a “strategic tandem.” A high‑level visit by Kazakh Foreign Minister Yermek Kosherbayev to Tashkent highlighted cooperation across governance, trade, investment, connectivity, cultural, and water‑energy issues. Bilateral trade...
CEPR Sanctions Watch March 2026
The CEPR Sanctions Watch March 2026 reports that the Trump administration has opened limited channels for Iranian and Russian oil sales while easing certain Venezuela sanctions, even as it maintains a strict blockade on Cuba. Concurrently, U.S. and Israeli forces...
Trump-Xi Summit: US Trade Chief Casts Doubt on Pre-Meeting Beijing Visit
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told Bloomberg that cabinet members will not travel to Beijing ahead of the anticipated mid‑May Trump‑Xi summit, diverging from the usual pre‑summit diplomatic routine. The comment follows a White House statement suggesting cabinet‑level engagements would...
Hichilema Urges Greater Energy Investment as Reforms Drive Zambia’s Growth Agenda
President Hakainde Hichilema urged greater private investment in Zambia’s energy sector, highlighting reforms that are attracting capital and accelerating the country’s push toward a 10 GW power generation target. He said the restructuring of state utility ZESCO and the work of...
Will Conflict in the Middle East Boost China’s Renewable Energy Sector?
The Iran‑Israel‑U.S. war has driven Brent crude to its highest level since 2022, rattling global markets. Despite a 5% quarterly dip in the Hang Seng, China’s large strategic crude reserves and aggressive renewable‑energy rollout keep its growth outlook intact. Renewable‑energy...
Japan to Create Special Cell to Push FDI Into India
Japan’s Foreign Ministry is establishing a dedicated centre to streamline Japanese investment into India, targeting ¥10 trillion (about $62.6 billion) in private‑sector capital by 2035. The unit will help firms navigate India’s fragmented state regulations, opaque law enforcement, and complex tax regime...
Philippines External Position Improves as Net Liability Narrows in 2025
The Philippines narrowed its net external liability to $50.8 billion, or 10.4% of GDP, by the end of 2025, improving from $52.1 billion three months earlier. External assets grew 1% quarter‑on‑quarter, outpacing a 0.4% rise in liabilities, driven by higher reserve assets...
India's First Iranian Oil Cargo Since 2019 Headed to Gujarat Coast
India is set to receive its first Iranian crude cargo since 2019, with the Aframax tanker Ping Shun carrying about 600,000 barrels to Vadinar, Gujarat. The shipment follows a U.S. 30‑day waiver allowing Iranian oil sales on the water amid the...
Middle East Conflict Lifting PPA Valuations, Says Pexapark
Swiss analytics firm Pexapark reports that recent LNG strikes in the Middle East are pushing up long‑term power purchase agreement (PPA) valuations across Europe. The conflict creates a structural supply‑side risk that tightens medium‑term fundamentals, especially in markets with limited...
Novastar Ventures Closes $147 Million Third Fund to Drive Pan-African Ambitions
Novastar Ventures closed its third fund, the Africa People and Planet Fund III, at $147 million, targeting climate‑focused and impact‑driven startups across Africa. Japanese investors such as SBI Holdings, SMBC, Mitsubishi and JICA joined returning partners like Norfund and British International Investment....
EU Legislators Visit China to Ease Strained Relations
EU legislators visited China for the first time in eight years, aiming to steady relations strained by trade imbalances, human‑rights disputes and Beijing's ties to Russia. The delegation, responsible for market and consumer protection, will discuss digital trade, e‑commerce fairness...
Japan and South Korea’s Energy Hedge
The blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has triggered a systemic shock to global energy flows, prompting Japan and South Korea to deepen bilateral cooperation on LNG security. Both nations’ top energy firms, KOGAS and JERA, signed an MOU enabling...
China’s Economy Feels the Iran War Shock
The recent U.S.-Israel strike on Iran has choked the Strait of Hormuz, cutting off 40‑50% of China’s seaborne oil imports and adding pressure to an economy already in a three‑year deflationary slump. Beijing’s four‑month oil stockpile and a dual‑track sourcing...
Canada’s Trade Deal With Mercosur Alliance Could Revamp Western Hemisphere Trade
Canada is close to sealing a free‑trade agreement with the Mercosur bloc, potentially by September 2026. The deal would connect Canada with five South American economies—Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay—representing 282 million people and about $3 trillion in GDP. In 2024,...
Bridging Continents: The Future of Middle East-Africa Trade Alliances
The Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) is deepening trade alliances with African nations, creating a new South‑South growth corridor. GCC countries bring abundant capital, sovereign wealth funds, and advanced logistics, while Africa offers natural resources, arable land, renewable energy potential and...
Laos - Vietnam Railway Gets Green Light
The Lao National Assembly approved the first phase of a 562‑km standard‑gauge railway linking Vientiane with Vietnam’s Vung Ang deep‑water port. Phase 1A, a 147‑km stretch from the Thai border to the Laos‑Vietnam frontier, will be built under a 50‑year build‑operate‑transfer...
Ramaphosa Launches R2 Trillion Investment Drive
President Cyril Ramaphosa announced the launch of a second investment mobilisation drive targeting roughly $111 billion (R2 trillion) over the next five years. The South African Investment Conference has already secured about $49 billion (R889 billion) for 31 projects, promising 230,000 permanent jobs. A...
Why African Cities Are Central to Global Development
By 2050, an estimated 900 million people will be added to African cities, effectively doubling the continent’s urban population. The region’s rapid growth—averaging 3.5‑4% per year—will occur at per‑capita incomes of only $2,000‑$2,500, providing a far smaller tax base than historic...
Taiwan: Powering Ahead
Taiwan posted a record 7.71% GDP growth in 2025, outpacing IMF and ADB forecasts. The island’s economy is powered by a booming semiconductor and AI sector, which lifted exports by 35% and pushed the TAIEX above a $32 billion valuation. Foreign...
Country Report: Turkey’s Booming Numbers
Turkey entered 2026 with a surge in market optimism, as the BIST 100 reached a record 13,867 points and the central bank trimmed its policy rate by 100 basis points to 37%. The government raised $3.5 billion through eurobond issuances, while...
Uber Commits R5-Billion to South Africa Amid Licensing Woes
Uber pledged roughly $260 million (R5 billion) for South Africa over three years, mixing existing spend with new funds for electric‑vehicle fleets, charging infrastructure, merchant hardware and township‑focused Uber Eats. The announcement, made at the South African Investment Conference, is timed to...
From Belt and Road to Belt Tightening: China's Neighbours Get Cold Shoulder on Energy
China has imposed broad bans on fertilizer and fuel exports, citing domestic energy security concerns, while refusing to acknowledge the restrictions publicly. Southeast Asian nations—including Bangladesh, the Philippines, Thailand, Malaysia, and Australia—are pressing Beijing to honor existing contracts and keep...
Securing Asean’s Food Resilience Amid the Middle East Conflict
The ongoing Middle East conflict threatens ASEAN’s food security by jeopardizing both fertilizer imports and the LNG supplies that power nitrogen‑based fertilizers. ASEAN relies on 82% of its fertilizer imports from outside the region, with Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar especially...
Malaysia Raises 2026 Growth Forecast Despite Iran War Risks
Malaysia’s central bank has raised its 2026 growth projection to a 4‑5% range, up from the government’s previous 4‑4.5% target, citing stronger‑than‑expected momentum in late 2025 and resilient domestic demand. The outlook incorporates risks from the Iran‑related oil price surge,...
Japanese Firms Back VC Fund Targeting African Startups
Japanese conglomerates Mitsubishi Corp., Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., and Toyota Ventures LLC have pledged $147 million to a new Africa‑focused venture capital fund managed by Novastar Ventures. The fund also attracted capital from SBI Holdings, Mitsui OSK Lines, and the Japan International Cooperation Agency....
Colombia Highlights Common History in Africa Push
Colombia’s Afro‑descendant vice‑president Francia Márquez is spearheading a diplomatic outreach to Africa, highlighting shared heritage and seeking deeper economic ties. Trade between Colombia and the continent, though modest, has risen sharply – exports to Africa grew 16% annually from 2001‑2021...
Southeast Asia Braces for Fertilizer Shortages as Prices Spike on Iran War
Southeast Asian nations are confronting looming fertilizer shortages as global prices have surged sharply following the outbreak of war in Iran. The region relies on more than three‑quarters of its nitrogen‑based fertilizers passing through the Strait of Hormuz, making it...
Amid Rising Geopolitical Tensions and Trade Restrictions, AI Emerges as Key Driver of Global Trade Growth: McKinsey
Artificial intelligence is reshaping global commerce, with AI‑related hardware shipments surging nearly 40% in 2025 and accounting for roughly a third of worldwide trade growth. The United States emerged as the dominant demand hub, adding about half of all new...
Danantara’s ‘Impact Investing’ Is Really Just State Capitalism
Indonesia’s new sovereign fund, Daya Anagata Nusantara (Danantara), is marketed as an impact‑investing vehicle but operates as state‑directed capital. The fund is tightly woven into the government’s industrial strategy, aiming to reverse premature deindustrialisation as manufacturing’s GDP share slips to...
Ukraine Among Riskiest Markets as Equity Risk Premium Nears 20%
Ukraine’s equity risk premium has surged to roughly 19.8%, edging close to the 20% mark, making it one of the world’s most hazardous investment arenas. By contrast, mature markets such as Canada, Germany and Singapore sit near a 4‑5% premium,...
Oil-Thirsty Asian Nations Seek Russian Crude as Iran War Strains Supplies
Asian nations are scrambling for Russian crude as the U.S.-Israel war with Iran has cut roughly one‑fifth of global oil supply, especially through the Strait of Hormuz. The United States temporarily eased sanctions on Russian shipments, first for India and...
Piyush Goyal Discusses Early Implementation of India-EU FTA with European Parliament Delegation
Union Minister Piyush Goyal met a European Parliament delegation in New Delhi to discuss accelerating the India‑EU Free Trade Agreement, which was concluded in January 2026 and is expected to be ratified by early 2027. The FTA targets $300 billion in...
Ajaokuta’s Uncertain Future: Nigeria’s Steel Ambition Amid UK Deal
Nigeria’s government has signed a roughly $950 million export‑finance pact with the United Kingdom to upgrade Lagos’s main seaports, including a $89 million contract for British Steel to supply 120,000 tonnes of steel billets. While the deal promises faster cargo handling and potential...
Reopening Hormuz Is ‘Easier Said Than Done,’ Starmer Says
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer warned that reopening the Strait of Hormuz for commercial traffic will be challenging, emphasizing the need for de‑escalation before safe navigation can resume. He hosted senior military officials and executives from Lloyd’s, Goldman Sachs, HSBC,...
India’s Real Estate PE Inflows Jump 59% to $6.7 Billion in 2025; Office, Data Centres Lead: Savills India
India’s real‑estate private‑equity inflows surged 59% in 2025, reaching $6.7 billion, driven by strong GDP growth and easing monetary conditions. Office assets led the market with $2.4 billion, while data centres and residential properties also saw sizable allocations. Foreign investors contributed roughly...
Foreign Direct Investments Into Ho Chi Minh City Grow by over 200% in Q1 2026
Foreign direct investment into Ho Chi Minh City surged to nearly $2.9 bn in Q1 2026, a rise of more than 200% compared with the same quarter last year. When measured against the city alone, the increase approaches 480%. Exports for the...
Global Economic Chokepoints Grow at Cost of Resilience- #CapitalMarkets #Finance
Michael Spence warns that the global economy is riddled with single‑point chokepoints, from the Strait of Hormuz and Malacca to the Suez and Panama canals. Concentrated supply chains—such as Japan’s micro‑controller firms, the ASML‑TSMC‑Samsung semiconductor trio, and China’s rare‑earth dominance—have...
Air Freight Disruption Drives Surge in India-US Cargo Rates
Air freight rates from India to the United States have jumped 200‑350% since the third Gulf war began on February 28, driven primarily by severe capacity shortages. Gulf hubs such as Dubai and Abu Dhabi have lost roughly 79% of cargo capacity,...
How Pakistan Became a Major Player in Peace Negotiations Between the U.S. and Iran
Pakistan’s military, led by Army Chief Field Marshal Syed Asim Munir, has positioned the country as a broker in the U.S.-Iran war, offering to host talks in Islamabad and relaying President Donald Trump’s demands. The partnership deepened after the May 2025...
Pundits Fret over Oil Prices as War Widens
Houthi rebels have entered the Middle East war, raising concerns over oil supply disruptions. Brent crude rose to $116.75 per barrel and WTI topped $100 as the rebels threatened to close the Bab al‑Mandab strait, which handles about 6 million barrels...
China Spillovers
China’s slowdown generates both supply‑side and demand‑side shocks that ripple through global production networks. Recent IMF‑affiliated research finds that a negative Chinese supply shock cuts partner‑country GDP by about 0.15 % over two years, while demand shocks produce a similar but...
Europe Needs a 21st-Century Containment Strategy Toward Russia
Europe is debating whether to resume diplomatic talks with Russia as several EU capitals, notably France, Germany and Belgium, signal openness to engagement. At the same time, NATO is reshaping its command and burden‑sharing model, urging European allies to assume...
The Guardian View on Trump’s Iran War: Escalation without End | Editorial
The Guardian editorial warns that Donald Trump’s fifth week of war against Iran lacks a coherent strategy, with U.S. strikes and Iranian missile attacks creating a stalemate. The closure of the Strait of Hormuz has driven oil prices above $80...
India Must Pursue Value-Driven Critical Minerals Diplomacy in Africa
The recent Strait of Hormuz disruption highlighted India’s vulnerability to energy chokepoints and underscored the need for a resilient critical‑minerals supply chain. A forthcoming CSEP paper proposes a value‑driven diplomacy with Africa, focusing on Zambia, Zimbabwe and Tanzania to secure...
Abu Dhabi Power Play: L’Imad Emerges As $300 Billion Sovereign Force
Abu Dhabi has merged its state‑owned fund ADQ into the newly created sovereign wealth fund L Imad, boosting the latter’s assets to roughly $300 billion. The consolidation places the fund under the direct supervision of Crown Prince Sheikh Khaled bin Mohammed bin...
How the Dominican Republic Can Escape the ‘Middle-Income Trap’
The Dominican Republic has leveraged three decades of political stability and institutional continuity to transition from an agrarian economy to a diversified, open market that now grows at roughly 5% annually—well above the Latin American average. This steady growth has...
Will Trump Put Boots on the Ground in Iran? – The Latest
The United States has moved thousands of soldiers and Marines into the Middle East, signaling a shift toward a more forward‑deployed posture. Former President Donald Trump has reignited talk of a direct strike on Iran’s energy infrastructure, even suggesting seizure...
South Korean Unification Minister Uses North Korea’s Formal Name
South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young referred to the North by its official name, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, signalling a shift toward a "peaceful two‑state framework." President Lee Jae‑myung’s END Initiative separates denuclearisation from engagement, emphasizing exchange and...