Mongolia’s over-reliance on natural resources has put a strain on its economy, and a deal with the IMF offers the best hope of easing the country’s budgetary pressures. Jacopo Dettoni reports.

Developing Mindanao, the Philippines’ southernmost island, is a priority of president Rodrigo Duterte, and the main city, Davao, has already emerged as a dynamic business hub. However, security concerns remain as peace agreements with rebel groups have yet to be finalised, as Jacopo Dettoni reports.   

Philippines president Rodrigo Duterte has made former US airbase Clark – already a free zone – a key piece of his plan to decongest Manila. His efforts will need to overcome the country’s red tape and corruption to become a reality, reports Jacopo Dettoni

The new government in Argentina lifted most of the export taxes put in place during the years of Cristina Kirchner, giving local producers fresh incentives to boost production and exports, agriculture minister Ricardo Buryaile tells Jacopo Dettoni. The country is now aiming to use its vast and fertile land to feed 8% of the world population by 2020. 

Toyota's group CEO for Latin America, Steve St Angelo, tells Jacopo Dettoni why he views the company's strategy like a tree, and explains how it has negotiated the region's economic turbulence and sky-high inflation levels.

After several setbacks, the Astana International Financial Centre looks on track to open in 2018. It will become a major channel for Kazakhstan's ongoing privatisation programme, with up to $40bn in foreign investment expected to flow through its infrastructure, governor Kairat Kelimbetov tells Jacopo Dettoni.

Medellín, Colombia's second city, is consolidating its role as a business hub at the heart of the country by increasing its focus on start-ups and new technologies. Its government is now drafting a new 'smart specialisation' strategy to streamline the development of industrial clusters with high innovative potential and thus turn the page on its infamous past once for all. Jacopo Dettoni reports. 

Despite abundant domestic resources, Afghanistan still imports about 80% of its energy as investors stay away from what they still consider a high-risk location. But the situation is changing and the government can now guarantee the safety of a project, energy and water minister Ali Ahmad Osmani tells Jacopo Dettoni. 

Political uncertainties are weighing on global crossborder investment, and Unctad estimates global FDI will have fallen 10% to 15% in 2016. Meanwhile, FDI into south-east Asia remains strong, and both Africa and the Middle East are slowly recovering. Jacopo Dettoni and Sebastian Shehadi report.

The Philippines’ volatile president Rodrigo Duterte has turned towards Asia to strengthen regional ties, at the expense of established US trade relations. As his country continues to attract mounting levels of FDI, this foreign policy shift is reflected in the emergence of Asian investors as a dominant source of capital, as Jacopo Dettoni reports.