| EMERGING MARKETS REVIEW | Connected Post-Harvest Logistics |
| Archives |
February 4th, 2020
This newsletter is inspired by my latest research analysis report on Connected Next Generation Post-Harvest Logistics in Emerging Countries.
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INFRASTRUCTURE
WÄRTSILÄ SIGNS GRID-SCALE EPC AND ESS TECH SUPPLY DEALS IN SOUTH EAST ASIA, CARIBBEAN
January 30, 2020 - Energy Storage News
Energy Storage News reports that the Finnish Wärtsilä Corporation has announced two deals for energy storage in two geographically diverse locations - an unnamed South East Asia Territory; and Roatan, Honduras in the Caribbean. According to Energy Storage News, the SE Asia region consists of many territories separated by hundreds of islands, exhibiting power quality issues, and present a mountainous land terrain along with rising city urbanization. In Honduras, the company is noted to have existing presence through mostly a gas engine business. Though, the announced deal to implement battery energy storage is slated to allow for further integration of solar and wind assets with existing infrastructure.
https://www.energy-storage.news/news/waertsilae-signs-grid-scale-epc-and-technology-supply-deals-in-south-east-a
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TECHNOLOGY
WILL BLOCKCHAIN DISRUPT SUPPLY-CHAINS AND LOGISTICS?
January 22, 2020 - Global Economic Dynamics Project (GED)
In this blogpost at GED, a project of Bertelsmann Stiftung, the author reflects that while blockchain's hype factor may have already peaked, major challenges for this technology however remain (See also: Gartner's 2019 assessment of blockchain techs place them out towards at least 2028). According to the blogpost, unanswered areas linger in the realms of the tech's need for high-energy consumption, business legal scenarios, and nations' economic focus on digital strategies. Some key consideration areas, for instance, include the lack of clarity on use in cross-border trade, as well as on related jurisdictional responses to actions of companies, among other factors.
https://ged-project.de/allgemein-en/blockchain-supply-chain/
MARITIME START-UPS AND MATURING TECHNOLOGIES TO HERALD DECADE OF REVOLUTION
January 13, 2020 - Seatrade Maritime News
According to Seatrade Maritime News, New York Maritime Innovation Center's Chris Clott sees the 2020's decade as a time for revolution in business as technologies start to mature. At a recent speaking event focused on start-ups, Clott noted that while the maritime industry is traditionally conservative and uncomfortable with change, innovations in technology are pushing it down that path. According to the article, two major trends are now setting the pace. One being the drastic fall in cost curves as technology has matured. The other being use of artificial intelligence (AI) where the application is end-to-end visibility. Several driving factors are also noted.
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CLIMATE CHANGE
BLACKROCK C.E.O. LARRY FINK: CLIMATE CRISIS WILL RESHAPE FINANCE
January 14, 2020 - The New York Times
The New York Times reports that BlackRock founder and CEO, Laurence Fink, has announced that the firm is making an investment consideration shift more in line with environmental sustainability at the core. Noting that BlackRock is the world's largest asset manager, such a view is expected to induce change in its own investment policy as well as in corporate American business. And while many companies in recent years are said to have committed to being mindful of business practices on the environment, The New York Times reports that the largest investors have been unwilling to make it a core investment strategy. The article adds this new approach by BlackRock could spark a new conversation among business and policymakers.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/14/business/dealbook/larry-fink-blackrock-climate-change.html
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ECONOMY
KENYA’S LOGISTICS SECTOR TO REACH $5 BILLION BY 2023
January 22, 2020 - Logistics Update Africa (LUA)
LUA reports on research by firm Ken Research highlighting the drivers behind the continuing growth in Kenya's logistics sector. According to LUA, the report cites a variety of steps the country has taken to grow its logistics sector. These include areas as on-going road construction and maintenance, growth stimulant investments targeting development of the ports at Mombasa and Kisumu, as well as increased trade with China. LUA also reports on Nairobi's plans to reduce levies on foreign investors and on helping them acquire land to build special economic zones.
https://www.logupdateafrica.com/index.php/kenyas-logistics-sector-to-reach-5-billion-by-2023
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POLICY & REGULATORY
UNDER FIRE IN INDIA, AMAZON OFFERS SMALL BUSINESS OWNERS $1 BILLION OLIVE BRANCH
January 15, 2020 - Reuters
According to Reuters, Amazon and Walmart's Flipkart continue to face resistance in pushing ahead with e-commerce activity in India. Amid much criticism from India's brick-and-mortar businesses citing unfair deep discounting and overlooking small sellers by promoting select big ones, Reuters reports that the Competition Commission of India (CCI) has begun an anti-trust effort looking into these allegations. Against this backdrop, Reuters also notes that Amazon has announced it will invest $1 bilion to help bring small retailers online, and that a CCI study estimates India's e-commerce market growth at 51% per year between 2017 and 2020.
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-amazon-com-india/under-fire-in-india-amazon-offers-small-business-owners-1-billion-olive-branch-idUSKBN1ZE0K1
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