Foreign investment – KCS Group Asia Ltd

Laos, China and the Corridor

Articles / Australia, China, Due Diligence, European Union, Foreign investment, Global trade, Japan, Laos, risks, Southeast Asia, trade corridor, United Kingdom, USA / 09/2025

Since the China Laos Railway (CLR) began service in December 2021, Laos has shifted from a land-locked cul-de-sac to a viable overland bridge into China and, by extension, East Asia and Europe. Throughput is climbing with the line moving close to 3 million tonnes in the first half of 2025, up 8.8% year-on-year, indicating deeper [...]

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West Africa’s Cocoa-driven Power Plays

Articles / Cocoa, Cote d'Ivoire, Due Diligence, Economy, farming industry, Foreign investment, Ghana, risks, trade relations, West Africa / 09/2025

After two poor seasons in West Africa, cocoa supply remains volatile. Forecasts now point to another output drop in 2025/26 - driven by erratic weather, disease pressure, ageing trees and even mining encroachment - pushing prices to extreme levels and straining operations. This squeeze has created the political space for Accra and Abidjan to lean

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A Geothermal Gold Rush – how East Africa converts heat into industry

Articles / China, East Africa, energy supply, Ethiopia, European Union, Foreign investment, geothermal, green hydrogen, Kenya, USA / 09/2025

East Africa’s Rift Valley holds high-enthalpy geothermal resources that provide steady, 24/7 power. This reliable output can support energy-intensive uses such as industrial parks, data centres, desalination and, in time, green hydrogen. Kenya has converted its geology into grid strength. About 80% of its electricity now comes from renewables, with geothermal supplying around 45%, the

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Mongolia’s Rare Earth Strategy: balancing risks and rivalries

Articles / China, Due Diligence, economic growth, Foreign investment, global trade routes, minerals, Mongolia, political instability, risks, Russia, supply chains / 08/2025

Wedged between China and Russia, Mongolia is often viewed through the prism of its geography: landlocked and dependent on its neighbours for access to global trade routes. Yet, beneath its deserts and steppes lies a resource base that has the potential to redraw supply chains for critical minerals. Copper, gold and rare earth elements make

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Energy, Politics and Power: Guyana’s High-Stakes Ascent

Articles / China, Due Diligence, economic growth, energy markets, energy supply, Foreign investment, Guyana, Oil, risks, supply chains, USA / 08/2025

ExxonMobil’s deepwater discoveries in Guyana’s Stabroek Block have transformed the country from a marginal player to one of the most promising oil frontiers globally. The block holds over 11 billion barrels of recoverable reserves, placing Guyana among the largest new offshore producers. Since 2022, Guyana’s GDP growth has been the fastest in the world, averaging

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Central Asia: from sanctions to strategy

Articles / Central Asia, China, Due Diligence, Economy, Europe, Foreign investment, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, risks, Sanctions, trade corridor, Uzbekistan / 08/2025

Kazakhstan is moving the fastest. Construction is under way on the new Darbaza-Maktaaral rail link to Uzbekistan (US$523 million) and a second track on the Dostyk-Moiynty section to lift China-Europe capacity five-fold by 2027. At the Caspian end, Aktau will add a 200,000 TEU container hub by 2025 for just US$42 million, while Kuryk gains

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Corridors or Chokepoints – the infrastructure bet driving Ethiopia’s future

Articles / Africa, China, Denmark, Due Diligence, Economy, energy supply, Ethiopia, European Union, Foreign investment, Geopolitics, Infrastructure, risks, Saudi, trade corridor, UAE / 08/2025

Although the Pretoria accord halted open warfare, Ethiopia’s political temperature has begun to rise again. Rival factions inside the Tigray People’s Liberation Front now contest the authority of the federally backed Interim Administration; analysts warn that internal splits could ignite a fresh insurgency and draw Eritrea back in. In parallel, the Fano militia in Amhara

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Kazakhstan: The Eurasian Trade Pivot

Articles / Asia, China, Due Diligence, economic growth, energy markets, Europe, Foreign investment, Geopolitics, Industrial, Kazakhstan, risks, Sanctions, Turkey, USA / 06/2025

Kazakhstan enters mid-2025 in a somewhat different position from previous years. The economy is showing signs of stable growth, with the World Bank projecting GDP expansion driven by non-oil sectors, and revived investor interest. Inflation has eased, and fiscal buffers have been replenished following earlier shocks from the pandemic and energy price volatility. While hydrocarbons

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The UAE’s Rise and Reach: not to be underestimated

Articles / authoritarian, Due Diligence, economic growth, Foreign Affairs, Foreign investment, Geopolitics, Gulf, UAE, United Arab Emirates / 05/2025

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) used to rely heavily on oil to drive growth, but over the last decade, it has shifted its economic focus. In 2025, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) expects the UAE’s GDP to grow by 4%, rising to 5% in 2026, outpacing both Saudi Arabia and Qatar. Most of this growth

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China’s Opportunities: Western partners and allies

Articles / China, Due Diligence, economic growth, Europe, Foreign investment, Geopolitics, Global trade, manufacturing, trade relations, USA / 05/2025

The evolving rift between Washington and Beijing is reshaping international trade and diplomacy. As the United States promotes a strategy of "de-risking" from China, aimed at reducing economic exposure without complete disengagement, Beijing is reinforcing its position as a necessary global partner. China continues to be as open for business as ever, offering investment opportunities

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