Frontier Markets News

Making money from oil-drilling takes a long time. Matthias Pitkowitz is on a mission to show that making money from saving forests doesn’t.  Pitkowitz, founder of EQX Biome, is working with the government of the Democratic Republic of the Congo to show that protecting rainforests can be more lucrative than sucking out the oil underneath them. His plan would channel some $3 billion in tax revenues to DRC over 20 years and guarantee the country’s rainforest ecosystem — a priceless natural asset — would remain intact.  It turns out we can save the planet. Find out how.

Charlie Robertson, chief global economist at frontier- and EM-focused Renaissance Capital, joins us to dig into the new Saudi story, whether emerging markets investors got a bit too excited early this year, how long we can expect the dollar to retain its primacy and when African nations will reach escape velocity.    Charlie also spills the beans on questions he’s asking about his own portfolio. Should he go ex-China? Listen on to find out.

After a difficult 2022, Vietnamese equities are stabilizing and set for steady, if unexciting, performance in 2023. But next year? Fasten your seatbelts and hang onto your hats — the rebound will be dramatic, according to Bill Stoops, CIO at Ho Chi Minh-based Dragon Capital.  Listen in to learn more about where and how the market will outperform from one of the most experienced equity investors in Vietnam. 

Vietnam was one of the most successful countries at managing the pandemic and is one of the primary beneficiaries of the current trend for disinvesting in China. Many investors, though, still overestimate the risks of putting money to work in this vibrant southeast Asian economy. In this episode, Chad Ovel, a partner at Ho Chi Minh-based Mekong Capital, gives us the inside scoop on what they're missing — and how the dramatic progress Vietnam has made over the past decade is just the first chapter in a multi-generational growth story.

Jarred Glansbeek, founder and chief investment officer at $2 billion EM and FM investment firm RisCura has some advice for navigating seemingly cheap markets that are clouded by uncertainty — and prone to bouts of unexpected volatility.  “There’s a big portion of emerging markets that has a great earnings story. The equity markets are looking good.”

Getting funding to projects in developing countries is one of the thorniest problems in international development. Crossboundary, an innovative firm that started life creating off-grid solar-power projects in East Africa, might just have cracked the code. Meet Matt Tilleard, Crossboundary’s co-founder, to learn about how they’re channelling the capital looking to do good in the world to where it’s needed most, how they’ve deployed more than $1 billion already, and how the economics of distributed renewable energy are improving exponentially. The future is bright!

Asha Mehta, a brilliant data-driven investor, has carved a very successful niche for her firm Global Delta Capital at the junction of impact, profit and sustainability. We dig into the substantial overlap between impact investing, innovation and frontier-emerging markets investing, explore opportunities for investors in Africa and beyond, and unpack the benefits of blended capital, responsible investment and the UN’s SDGs. #ESG #ClimateFinance #CatalyticCapital #ImpactInvesting 

Lots of people talk about empowering African entrepreneurs, about enabling young Africans to build their own futures. Tony Elumelu stumped up $100 million of his own money to actually do it. The results are remarkable. The thousands of budding business owners who’ve passed through the Tony Elumelu Foundation’s entrepreneurship program have created hundreds of thousands of jobs, according to a PwC analysis. In this episode, we talk to Somachi Chris-Asoluka as she takes over as CEO of the foundation about the real impact empowering entrepreneurs can have, as well as her vision for the future. Spoiler alert: We need more people and organizations to step up. Prepare to be inspired!

If you’re wondering whether the blistering rally in emerging markets assets can continue, fear not! Razia Khan, chief economist for Africa and the Middle East at Standard Chartered bank, has the answer. She also deciphers what’s been happening with African debt, drills into Zambia’s prospects, flags some good news from Angola … and, while she scrupulously doesn’t frame it as such, she also has some very helpful advice for Nigeria’s leading presidential candidates.  Curious about Africa’s prospects? Listen on! You might hear something like this: “Despite all the shocks, there is still a growth dynamic in Africa that is surprising positively.”

Green bonds as a leading indicator for credit upgrades, reform stories in Indonesia, Vietnam, Saudi Arabia and beyond, a look at what’s coming down the pike for Pakistan (as well as what it can learn from Egypt) and a few tips for investors looking for that hidden gem, off the beaten path. Spoiler alert: It might be Oman.  Matt Vogel, Head Strategist and Portfolio Manager at frontier- and emerging-markets fund manager FIM Partners, shares his thoughts on the promises and pitfalls facing frontier and growth market investors in 2023.