The Malaysia Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai features four showcases that highlight the country’s burgeoning agricultural-commodity sector, technological strength, culture, and tourism, all while promising zero net emissions. As its economy recovers from COVID-19, the mega-event offers an opportunity for the country to attract tourists, investors and strategic partners to take its recent strides to new heights.

The UAE government recently proposed an amendment in the UAE Bankruptcy Law (Federal Decree No.9 of 2016) which aims to support viable businesses that are experiencing financial difficulty in the context of an “Emergency Financial Crisis”, a situation which affects trade and investment in the UAE and which expressly includes the ongoing pandemic.

The lithium and battery storage sector is dominated by a handful of markets, but surging global demand coupled with increased traction of the element are now generating exciting new partnership opportunities across emerging markets. As countries scramble to diversify the existing China-dominated lithium battery value chain, Zimbabwe, the UAE, and Estonia are three key players we believe should partner to capitalize on the growing lithium market.

As Expo 2020 focuses on urban development and planning as one of its key thematic areas, it is critical to recognize the efforts made by country pavilions as well as private companies to boost the environmental efficiency and sustainability of urban planning and development solutions.

Adviser Ama is a 30-year old investment professional based in Nairobi who advises entrepreneurs and investors on deal-making in Africa. In this episode, Adviser Ama and Entrepreneur Mugisha meet Investor Billy. While things seem promising from the mega-fund manager, who seems eager to add Mugisha’s company to his portfolio, it turns out that all is not what it seems…

A growing number of organizations are shifting their giving strategies to African-founded organizations. We highlight three philanthropic organizations making dedicated efforts to integrate racial equity, particularly by funding Black-founded organizations, into their grantmaking approaches.

This is part 4 in a series exploring what a paradigm shift in how consultants consult could look like in the 21st century, especially given our tendency to superimpose linearity on a world that is, more often than not, circuitous at best. 

Under the theme “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future,” Dubai's Expo 2020 will showcase several technology initiatives that may have far-reaching implications for the future of global business in a digital-first world.

Expo 2020’s theme “Connecting Minds and Creating the Future” encapsulates the promising future of Dubai’s content creator industry. The UAE has developed influencer-friendly policies and tapped content creators to raise awareness of government initiatives and accelerate social and economic change.

Adviser Ama is a 30-year old investment professional based in Nairobi who advises entrepreneurs and investors on deal-making in Africa. In this episode, Adviser Ama and Entrepreneur Mugisha meet Investor Kevin, who requires that entrepreneurs join the Flat Earth Society to secure an investment. Read more and laugh below.

As Serbs and other Balkan nations, like Montenegro and Slovenia, participate in the upcoming Expo 2020, the UAE should consider deepening its ties in the Balkan region — both for economic opportunities and geopolitical gains. The Balkans, on their part, should fuel their economy by leveraging Expo 2020 to showcase their geostrategic value.

Since winning the Expo bid in 2013, the UAE government has doubled down on investments in areas like transportation, logistics, marketing, and tourism to make the Middle East’s first World Expo a success—and a sustainable one at that.

China may be the largest lender to emerging markets, but it is not the creditor that Africa should be most concerned about. The Covid-19 pandemic highlights the need for countries to rethink their relationships with commercial lenders, especially when it comes to seeking debt relief or renegotiating the terms of existing debt.

Meet Adviser Ama, an investment professional based in Nairobi who advises entrepreneurs and investors on deal-making in Africa. From deals gone awry to term sheet drama, you'll laugh at her accounts of the fundraising woes that African start-ups face each day. Each edition features fictionalized conversations between investors and entrepreneurs, all based on true stories.

The UAE is home to a large number of Small and Medium Consulting Firms (SMCFs), serving diverse clients in an array of industries and geographies. Yet, there is a conspicuous lack of information on their identities, activities, achievements, and obstacles. As a result of these information gaps and asymmetries, SMCFs typically operate in silos, including in situations where they would benefit from greater cooperation and collaboration.

For Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and the UAE, hydrogen is both a threat and an opportunity. While hydrogen could cannibalize oil demand, it could also support national energy diversification strategies that have become a priority for all of the region’s governments.

As Middle East-based investors expand their African footprint, Middle Eastern and African countries should collaborate to create Sharia-compliant structures like Sukuk bonds to facilitate investments into the continent.

Digital needs, whether in identification, cell phone use, or internet access, are as critical to refugees’ safety and security as food, shelter, and water. The private sector can and should engage in these areas, as they are mutually beneficial.

The Emirati film industry is growing at a steady rate and currently represents 420 million euros to the local economy, but numbers only tell part of the story. By generating demand for culturally specific yet relatable stories, the UAE can paint its cultural portrait on the big screen while creating a viable and sustainable creative ecosystem.

Ramadan 2021 comes at a challenging time for the UAE economy. Reduced working hours coupled with an ongoing pandemic will likely result in very different economic trends compared to previous years, including 2020.