GlobalSource Partners | Country Insights

Most market attention will be set today on Alberto Fernandez’s speech during the opening sessions of Congress, which is expected to happen at noon, local time. This said, in this opportunity, we would like to review January’s trade balance published Friday afternoon. Even though the December to F...

Moldova receives first vaccines from Romania

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 28 Feb 2021

On February 26 the first batch of coronavirus vaccines were flown to Chisinau. Romania has promised to gift 200,000 doses of its share of the EU vaccine to Moldova. Moldova and Romania are neighbors. They share the same language though Moldova also has Russian as an official language.

Hi tech service exports continue to support growth (and the shekel)

ISRAEL · In Brief · 28 Feb 2021

Highlights of the weekly macro wrap up: The BoI sounds more optimistic Rates and accommodation remained unchanged last week. Nevertheless, the rate announcement sounded more upbeat, in light of rapid vaccinations and opening up of the economy “The fast pace of the inoculation process in Israel in...

Beware the Ides of March

TURKEY · Report · 28 Feb 2021 · 1 response

February started poorly for Mr. Erdogan and his AKP-MHP alliance, turning into a rout by the end of the month. The administration couldn’t deliver any tangible progress on the economy or the COVID-19 epidemic fronts, with bigger defeats occurring in the political arena, where to quote one savvy s...

Relations between Russia and US at rock bottom over Syria and Crimea

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 27 Feb 2021

On February 26 Moscow condemned US air strikes on Syria. The attacks supposedly killed Iranian militants. Russia is a stalwart ally of Syria.On February 26 President Biden said that Crimea belongs to Ukraine, and the United States shall never recognize it as Russian land. There has been an increa...

Ukraine receives vaccines from India

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 27 Feb 2021

On February 23 a consignment of 500,000 doses of AtsraZeneca arrived in Ukraine from India. Ukraine has finally started vaccinating people. Kyiv has refused to purchase Sputnik V, and Western vaccines are too expensive for Ukraine. The EU has a program to provide Eastern European nations with vac...

Essential CIS Politics: February 2021

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · Report · 26 Feb 2021

* Pro-Navalny protests in Russia were attended by EU diplomats, leading to tit-for-tat expulsions and jeopardizing Nord Stream 2. * Coronavirus is falling in Russia, and restrictions are easing but vaccination is very slow. * Ukraine, under US pressure, banned a Chinese compa...

Finally, the Electric Pact was signed

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC · In Brief · 26 Feb 2021 · 2 responses

Yesterday the National Pact for the Reform of the Electricity Sector 2021-2030 was signed. This Pact aims to “build a agreed vision of the electricity system to guide the actions to be developed in the short, medium and long term for the Dominican Republic to have definitively an efficient, compe...

SAUDI ARABIA: Khashoggi report blames MBS and US imposes travel ban on 76 Saudis

GULF COUNTRIES · In Brief · 26 Feb 2021

The declassified summary of the US National Intelligence report is very brief (500 words). It states “we assess” that MBS approved an operation “to capture or kill” Jamal Khashoggi based on: "His control of decision making in the Kingdom;The direct involvement of a key adviser and members of Muha...

No pain, no gain: the IMF on pause amid abundant liquidity

UKRAINE · Report · 26 Feb 2021

The end of the IMF mission without a result, continued nonresident demand for local state bonds and sanctions against advocates of the “Russian world” were the main topics in Ukraine at the start of the year. The IMF virtual mission ended its work in mid-February, reporting “productive discus...

10% of Russian SMEs face closure

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 26 Feb 2021

On February 24 a government study showed that a tenth of small businesses are about to fold. The business ombudsman conducted the study. The survey was published on RBK. The small business sector is irate that almost all government aid has been directed at major corporations, i.e., those most abl...

Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela: Quasi-sovereigns in Latin America and the evolving relationship with the sovereign

COLOMBIA · Report · 26 Feb 2021

In our live webinar, Juan Carlos Echeverry, Mauricio Gonzalez, Marco Fernandez and Ruth de Krivoy discuss the risks and opportunities to watch for in the sovereign/quasi-sovereign relationship in Colombia, Mexico, Panama and Venezuela. Our webinar is moderated by Joe Kogan, Head of Latin America...

GULF WEEKLY: Biden calls King Salman, Saudi issues €1.5bn, Kuwait MPs oppose asset withdrawals

GULF COUNTRIES · Report · 26 Feb 2021

A skimmable summary overlaid with our analysis and links. Headlines include: * A temporary IAEA nuclear monitoring agreement provides space for US-Iran talks. * The US bombed pro-Iranian militia on the Syria-Iraq border, in retaliation for an attack last week. * Saudi issued €1.5bn in 3 and ...

CHINA ADVISORY · Report · 26 Feb 2021

A number of events have raised the level of concern among local residents about the future of Hong Kong. These include the arrest of media enterpreneur Jimmy Lai and of former leglisator and pro-democracy activist Martin Lee, the imposition of nationalist curriculum in the lower schools, and the ...

Armenian Army denounces the prime minister

RUSSIA / FSU POLITICS · In Brief · 26 Feb 2021

On February 24 the army issued a statement expressing its lack of confidence in Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyam. The generals said that he was ''incapable of making adequate decisions.'' Pashinyan brought 20 000 admirers onto the streets in a show of force. Pahinyan said that the army top brass' s...