In the first episode of the year, we talked about emerging markets in 2025, exploring key trends and investment opportunities.

With sources curated by Ana Paula Picasso and analysis/voices from Google's NotebookLM, we examined accelerating digital transformation in Southeast Asia, Africa, and India, and the crucial role of sustainability and green investments in driving growth, citing examples from India, Brazil, and Africa.

We also analyzed the impact of evolving geopolitics and trade patterns, including the US-China dynamic and its effect on global supply chains.

Ana Paula Picasso will be back very soon with in-person interviews - in the meantime, don't forget to check out www.emergingmarkets.today for more articles.

In this episode, we explore India’s Semiconductor Surge: Driving Force of “Make in India”, highlighting the country’s ambition to become a global manufacturing leader through semiconductor growth and the strategic U.S.-India Semiconductor Supply Chain and Innovation Partnership.

We also revisit India’s Golden Decade Has Already Begun, an interview with Ian Herbison, CEO of Speyside group discussing India’s evolving role in the global supply chain and the shift away from China.

Why hasn’t IKEA entered Brazil yet? In this episode, we explore the reasons behind IKEA’s absence in Brazil’s market, including tough competition from local brands and logistical challenges. Tune in for insights!

This episode was made with NotebookLM.

Read more: No IKEA in Brazil: Local Furniture Brands Pose Fierce Competition

In this episode, powered by Google’s NotebookLM AI Tool, we dive into how Showmax has overtaken Netflix in Africa by focusing on local content, language diversity, and flexible payment options. We also explore Africa's booming music streaming industry, where platforms like Boomplay and Spotify are reshaping the music scene despite challenges like piracy and data costs.

Want to learn more? Check out the full articles:

• Africa Prefers Showmax: Subscription Numbers Surpass Netflix
• Digital Beats of Africa: How Music Streaming is Transforming the Continent

Walmart's "Everyday Low Prices" strategy may have succeeded in the US, but it faced a surprising defeat in Brazil.

Despite a super fast expansion through acquisitions in the early 2000s, Walmart failed to connect with Brazilian shoppers who preferred promotional deals and local stores over the giant’s hypermarkets.

The company struggled against strong competitors like Carrefour and GPA, and its poor brand positioning left it unable to capture both low-income and middle-class consumers.

By 2021, Walmart exited Brazil entirely, selling its stake to Carrefour Brasil.

Tune in to learn what went wrong, or read more here.

** This episode, created using Google’s NotebookLM AI Tool

In this episode, I’m doing something completely different.

I invited two AI voices from Google’s new NotebookLM tool to join me for a conversation about one of my latest articles—how Chinese automaker BYD is investing in Brazil’s electric vehicle market!

We dive into why a country famous for its ethanol cars is now a battleground for the EV revolution, and how BYD’s strategy to build local (instead of importing pricey models like Tesla) could be a game-changer.

You can read the full article here.

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This is the last encore episode of 2023! In the face of the possible border dispute between Venezuela and Guyana, I decided to repost the episode I recorded with Steven Jasmin, the Managing Director of SC3. Stephen has been deeply involved in Guyana since 2017 and has some fascinating insights about this rapidly growing nation.

Here are some key takeaways from our conversation:

Guyana's Transformation: Since the discovery of oil in 2015, Guyana has been on a remarkable journey of growth. It's projected to have a real GDP growth rate of 4346%.

The Qatar of South America: Steven believes that Guyana has the potential to become the "Qatar of South America" and the world's fastest-growing economy. This bold claim is backed by the country's massive oil reserves and its strategic location.

Investment Opportunities: Guyana's growth isn't just about oil. There are significant opportunities in infrastructure development, eco-tourism, and real estate. Plans are underway for a massive deepwater harbor and a road or rail network connecting Guyana to Brazil.

The Future of Guyana: Despite its small population, Steven predicts an influx of people due to its status as the fastest-growing economy.

For more on Smart City Clearing Company Ltd.(Sc3) click here

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