frontier markets Archives - Emerging Markets Today

Emerging Markets are ready for international trade, but need trade finance

November 24, 2021November 24, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

Emerging markets have grown at a lightning speed. Over the last 20 years, it has resulted in transforming international trading practices. Emerging economies now play a larger role in international trade than ever before. Twenty years ago, emerging economies accounted for about 30 percent of the world’s trade. Today, the figure stands at nearly 50 percent.

As supply and demand grow, developing market enterprises require ongoing working capital to maximize distribution, operational efficiency, and inventory turnover. International trade financing companies can assist emerging-market businesses in improving their cash flow position and reducing their risk exposure.

International trade finance companies typically extend working capital to businesses in emerging markets by providing them with trade finance facilities such as documentary collections, letters of credit, standby letters of credit, factoring facilities, and export credit. When a buyer purchases goods from a seller,

World’s first mass malaria vaccine rollout could prevent thousands of children dying

October 12, 2021October 12, 2021 Guest

The world’s first mass vaccination program against malaria, announced this week, is set to prevent millions of children from catching malaria and thousands dying from this debilitating disease.

How we used smartphones to test for malaria: lessons from Uganda

August 25, 2021October 19, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

We believe that Africa’s widespread adoption of smartphones, even in the most remote areas, could be key to empowering people to administer tests and securely share their results with health authorities.

Working with the Uganda Ministry of Health once more, we set out to develop a diagnostic app to pair with our origami diagnostic system.

The world must not look away as the Taliban sexually enslaves women and girls

August 17, 2021August 17, 2021 Guest

In early July, after Taliban leaders who took control of the provinces of Badakhshan and Takhar issued an order to local religious leaders to provide them with a list of girls over the age of 15 and widows under the age of 45 for “marriage” with Taliban fighters. It’s not yet known whether they’ve complied.

Shortage of coffee in 2021 might see record prices

July 29, 2021September 7, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

Some of the most significant coffee-producing regions got less than half of the average amount of rain. Brazil is the world’s largest exporter of coffee. The rainy season in Brazil often occurs during the northern hemisphere’s winter, giving enough water for farmers to irrigate coffee plants and keep them alive for several months. Bloomberg reported this week that Brazil’s rainy season suffered a severe shortage of rain. Some of the most important coffee-producing regions received less than half the typical quantity of rain. As a result, “output of arabica coffee,…

Emerging Markets will leapfrog to renewable energy

July 21, 2021July 21, 2021 Guest

Emerging markets are about to leapfrog fossil fuels to generate all the growth in their electricity supply from renewables in this decade. The peak global fossil fuel usage for electricity generation was probably 2018. The emerging markets are key to the global transition.

Why the next viral social media channel is coming from emerging markets

July 14, 2021July 29, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

Tiktok, which was created in China, witnessed an increase in the number of users on its app. Silicon Valley, once the origin of the first generation of social media applications such as Facebook and Instagram, is losing its position as the world’s only tech powerhouse. I invited Andy Tian, CEO of Asia Innovations Group, on the EMT podcast to discuss this shift in social media trends and the second generation of social media apps that are coming from emerging markets. The Chinese founded Tiktok saw an explosion of users in…

Global food waste: developed vs. developing countries

June 28, 2021June 28, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

Food waste has become a complex problem in recent years, attracting the attention of experts and customers in both developed and developing nations. According to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization, roughly one-third of all food produced for human use is wasted globally, amounting to 1.6 billion tons each year.

Guyana’s economy is booming and here is why

June 16, 2021June 17, 2021 Guest

Last year, despite Covid, Guyana’s Real GDP growth rate was an astounding 43.4% per the IMF. Pre-Covid it was supposed to be 85.6%. As one of only 3 Countries globally with a Real GDP growth rate over 5% in 2020 as a result of the global Covid-19 pandemic, Guyana’s future couldn’t look brighter.

El Salvador is the first country to recognize Bitcoin as legal tender

June 9, 2021June 9, 2021 Ana Paula Picasso

A majority of El Salvador’s lawmakers have approved a bill to officially accept Bitcoin as legal tender. President Nayib Bukele has backed the use of Bitcoin, explaining it will help Salvadorans send remittances home. The US dollar will continue to be legal tender in the South American country.