Features
Turkmenistan: Unjust deserts
Officials do not explain why they are imposing such stringent internal restrictions if Turkmenistan is, as they insist, genuinely coronavirus-free.
Russian pipemaker ChelPipe getting ready for IPO
With the predominance of oil and gas in Russia’s economy the pipe-making business is a big one. ChelPipe is the market leader and is now considering an IPO.
TURKEY INSIGHT: How bad a pandemic hit to GDP must country brace for?
Finance minister accused of just “dropping in from outer space” for sticking to his targets. Lira continues to crumble as analysts slash growth forecasts.
Keep calm and carry crypto
Tech startup Eligma has already popularised cryptocurrency payments in Slovenia. Now the company is keeping its operations going to enable contactless payments for groceries and other essentials.
Russia’s economy to contract by 1% in 2020, says BOFIT
Russia’s economy will contract by 1% in 2020, according to the latest forecast by the widely respected Bank of Finland Institute for Economies in Transition (BOFIT).
How well prepared is Ukraine to face down the coronavirus pandemic?
Coronavirus is now established in Ukraine, but the epidemic there has only just got underway. Following a major economic crisis in 2014 how well prepared is Ukraine to absorb the economic shock that is clearly on the way?
Is Russia facing another banking crisis due to the oil price and coronavirus shocks?
Is Russia’s banking sector in danger of another crisis due to the double whammy of the oil price collapse and coronavirus shocks?
Coronavirus crisis to widen rich/poor gap within Central and Eastern Europe
Convergence to be reversed as the economic crisis resulting from the coronavirus pandemic is set to be deeper and longer in the CIS, Ukraine, Turkey and the Western Balkans than in the EU member states of Central and Southeast Europe.
Historic wines in a changing world
As Moldova's biggest wine exporter Purcari Wineries expands into markets in Central Europe and beyond, it faces a landscape impacted by the coronavirus epidemic, climate change and the East-West standoff in the region.
Crunching the numbers: Russia is ready for prolonged oil shock
Markets are in turmoil following yet another oil shock to the Russian economy. But Russia has made enormous progress since the last time oil prices collapsed in 2014.
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TURKEY INSIGHT: In global market turmoil “usual suspects” seen facing possible severe balance of payments strains
Emerging market bond funds suffering “disastrous” performance numbers. Fear of redemptions and forced selling. EM sovereign dollar bond spreads wider by 50-100bp since start of month.
Oil price shock sparks rapid revision of budget in Kazakhstan
Country’s budget based on oil at $50-$55 per barrel compared to $31 caused by failure of OPEC+ talks. Situation could eat up government reserves. Some Kazakhs enter into panic buying of dollars. Central bank hikes key rate 275bp.
Uzbekistan's banking sector: calm before the boom
Since President Shavkat Mirziyoyev launched the Uzbekistan 2.0 reforms, the banking landscape is starting to change drastically.
The ruble's value tumbles in Russia's game of geopolitical chicken
The value of the Russia ruble plummeted in the evening of March 8 as trading began, following the price of oil into the chasm created by an oil price war that has broken out between Russia and Saudi Arabia.
Europe’s plan to introduce a carbon import tax is forcing Russia to go green
Europe wants to be carbon neutral by 2050, and is about to introduce a carbon import duty that is already forcing Russia’s biggest companies to speed up their efforts to go green.
CEE/CIS populations believe in gender equality in education but not in business or politics
More than 100 years since International Women’s Day was declared a national holiday in post-revolutionary Russia, a new survey from the UNDP reveals gender bias is still widespread across the region.
Georgia prays some strong economic underpinnings will counter coronavirus fallout
Loss of revenues caused by epidemic’s impacts on China and Iran will be significant to Tbilisi. A far bigger blow might arrive if Russia and Turkey shut down trade and travel links.
Moving towards zero waste tourism in Slovenia
Sustainability and green tourism are central to Slovenia’s tourist offering, but as visitor numbers grow so does the volume of waste they generate. Now hotels, festival organisers and NGOs are fighting back.
Tajikistan: Fraud-ridden election hands crushing win to ruling party
The election was a pro forma exercise.