(A&F) Water: Industry Investments Grow and Profit

The water industry is reporting continued expansion and is playing an ever more critical world role. Large entities are seeing investments in the sector rewarded and its course of development leads to speculation of continued growth in the market of blue gold. Infrastructure and purification systems, crucial all over the world and in entire regions such as China, have the ability to continually and increasingly become areas suitable for massive investments aimed at better management and effective use of water resources. Continue...

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Alberto Rossi

(16 April 2008)

(A&F) FAO: the global increase in food prices. What to do?

According to FAO economist Adam Prakash, nowadays the breadbasket of food imports costs 90% more than in 2000. The international price of basic food needs has increased all over the world and has resulted in a strong increase in retail prices, thus creating a dramatic state of affairs in the poorest countries that primarily depend on cereal imports. In one year, the price of corn and wheat has doubled. Data show that the crisis is not, however, due to production levels, seeing as they have never previously been so high. Continue...

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Domenico Guglielmi

(28 March 2008)

(A&F) Malaysia: The Consequences of the Anticipatory Elections

The anticipatory elections called by Prime Minister Badawi caused a significant change in the country’s domestic politics. The government coalition, in power from the time of the Asian nation’s independence, emerged from the contest at the polls with a noticeable decrease in votes. This opens new scenarios for Malaysia, traditionally ruled politically and without interference from any opposition. In the background there are ethnic, denominational and economic problems for the nation, problems that must be resolved so as not to jeopardise the development of the country. Continue...

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Michele Tempera

(27 March 2008)

(A&F) Egypt: Maghreb and Middle East driving force for the wind power

Cairo has the challenging objective of producing, beginning in 2020, 20% of its own energy power from renewable sources. According to the Egyptian strategy, carried on by NREA (New and Renewable Energy Agency) and the Minister of Electricity and Energy, and approved by the Supreme Council for Energy, about 12% of energy will come from wind power plants. This last field is the strongest of the energetic policies of the country, thanks to the favourable weather conditions. Therefore, the national economy can develop too, thanks to the foreign investments and the sparing of the petroleum and natural gas designed for the exports. Continue...

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Stefano Torelli

(26 February 2008)

(A&F) Iran: in anticipation of the 14th March parliamentary elections

There were 7168 Iranian people, and among them 590 women, who presented themselves as candidates for the parliamentary elections scheduled for 14th March. These elections will not modify the direction of the Iranian internal nuclear policy established by the Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, but they definitely represent a test for the Ahmadinejad leadership and a key-indicator for the presidential elections in 2009. Continue...

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Giovanni Grasso

(04 February 2008)

(A&F) South Africa: Economic and Political Perspectives for 2008

The Polokwane National Congress nominated Jacob Zuma as the new African National Congress (ANC) leader, revealing deep internal rifts in the government party. If the new leader continues along the economic path outlined by his predecessor Mbeki, he will indicate a greater attention in favour of social issues and the crisis in the area bordering Zimbabwe. Nonetheless, new accusations of corruption and the reopening of the Thales group trial represent a serious obstacle to Zuma's election as President of South Africa. Continue...

€ 2.5 / 1604 Words

Massimo Corsini

(23 January 2008)

(A&F) Libya: the new centre of economic investment for Europe

Muammar Gheddafi's recent visit to France and Spain highlighted the noteworthy European interest as regards investment into Libya not only in the field of energy but also in terms of military supplies and infrastructure. Russia and Italy are also determined to invest into something which is becoming one of the main centres of economic interest in the area. Continue...

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Riccardo Fabiani

(09 January 2008)