Is Africa the growth engine of the 21st Century? Many analysts and companies, including IBM, think so.

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The Balkans are attracting some foreign money, which largely ignored the economically undeveloped, politically unstable region for years in favor of safer markets in Central European countries.

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Outsourcing is not a new phenomenon for the Shipping and Logistics sector. Some of the biggest companies in this sector have used outsourcing in many of their key functions routinely. Although the core objectives which drove outsourcing haven’t changed over the years, what is new is that Shipping and logistics companies are now increasingly seeking to gain these benefits by outsourcing business processes which have been traditionally considered to be too core to be outsourced – much less offshored. This is just one amongst some of the key trends, which Infosys has researched, which are emerging from this domain.

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China’s ambitious plans to raise the living standards of the country’s rural interior have set off a boom in transport infrastructure development and a rush to upgrade its logistics industry. Here’s how a number of international companies are already taking advantage of these changes.

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Demand for outsourcing in Europe has increased dramatically in the first half of 2007, according to the latest Quarterly Index from sourcing advisers TPI. The total value of new outsourcing contracts in the 40m euro-plus ($55.2m) bracket–where most significant outsourcing activity occurs–is up 78 percent on the same period in 2006, the report says.

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China’s ambitious plans to raise the living standards of the country’s rural interior have set off a boom in transport infrastructure development and a rush to upgrade its logistics industry. Here’s how a number of international companies are already taking advantage of these changes.

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Chinese businesses’ hunger for raw materials is being offset by India’s need for mainland technology as trade is increasingly a two way street

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The impact of piracy on deep sea shipping has been addressed at a recent conference taking place in Kuala Lumpur. It seems that over the past few years levels of piracy have diminished substantially in the key waterway of the Malacca Straits, although spiralling elsewhere, especially in Africa. Already this year there have been recorded 17 actual or attempted attacks in Nigerian waters, with 40 seafarers taken hostage and Somalia, on the Horn of Africa, has become a ‘no-go’ area.

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Business dialogue around low-cost-country sourcing and emerging markets has become almost ubiquitous. But many of those conversations are limited to the BRIC countries: Brazil, Russia, India, and China. That’s unfortunate, since a great many opportunities also exist in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).

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Following what has now become a familiar path, DHL has announced the start of an investment programme in Vietnam, aiming to establish a nationwide infrastructure including hubs in Hanoi and Dong Nai and depots in Da Nang and Hai Phong. DHL follows on from rivals such as FedEx that have sought to establish own account operations in Vietnam.

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