Emerging Economies - Issue #12

TWO contests are under way in which titans holding billions in their thrall vie for global domination. One is unfolding on Russian football pitches and features the likes of Neymar and Harry Kane. The other is playing out on the smartphone screens of consumers in India, Indonesia, Brazil and other emerging economies.

WORLDWEBFORUM/FinTech 2017Innovation doesn’t just belong to Silicon Valley - it comes from everywhere.That’s the message from the World Economic Forum sent

In association with global tech week initiatives around the world, the Global Startup Ecosystem (GSE) has announced plans to launch annual tech week programs in emerging market cities from 2018 – 2030. Annual tech week initiatives have quickly become a reputable process for centralizing stakeholders in an ecosystem and showcasing top programs, initiatives, and influencers that are driving tech development within a region. 

Nigeria’s economy once had a textile industry that could be regarded as booming. In its golden era between 1985 and 1991, this industry had an annual growth rate of 67 percent. At the turn of 1991, the industry had 350 K employees who made up 25 percent of workers in manufacturing. About 180 textiles mills were in operation then. But today, the narrative is almost contrasting. All but 25 of the textile mills still are in existence. Most of them have called it quits with the most of what’s left running at less than 40 percent of installed capacity and having 25 K people employed. A significant number of participants in the industry channeled their blame to the influx of cheaper fabric from China and India, which turned fortunes and made it hard for local mills to compete in the industry. But, someone thinks there is still hope for the Nigerian textile industry.

startAD, the innovation and entrepreneurship platform anchored at NYU Abu Dhabi, has partnered with Khalifa Fund for Enterprise Development for the first time to present an updated version of Ibtikari (My Innovation). The fourth edition of Ibtikari will be an intensive six-month incubator aimed at…

Bulgaria is leading Southeastern Europe’s digital economy as a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation, particularly in the information technology sector, according to the country’s top envoy to Korea. “A vibrant, inclusive and supportive startup ecosystem has been developing in Bulgaria for the last 5 years involving various stakeholders, including pre-accelerators, accelerators, venture funds, business angels, co…