Failure shows SA Companies should reconsider African strategy

A look at South African companies’ prospects on the continent, their past successes and failures and how this bodes in the immediate future in light of the recently-implemented AfCFTA. The Business Day (South Africa) article includes insightful comment from Ken Gichinga, chief economist at Mentoria Economics based in Nairobi and Simon Newton Smith, Commercial Executive…

ByGeorge PhilipasOctober 19, 20210Comments

Africa Greece Greek-Cypriot Greeks

At the forefront of Greece’s new foreign policy drive: First-hand accounts from the Greek community in Libya

In November 2019, Greece was spurred into its biggest foreign policy shift in a generation. Borne out of the signing of the now-infamous Memorandum of Understanding between Libya and Turkey on delimiting maritime jurisdictions that encroached on Greece’s internationally-recognised maritime boundaries, Greece quickly scrambled to re-discover diplomatic and economic ties that had been allowed to decaypretty much since Greece turned its focus towards Europe in the…

ByGeorge PhilipasOctober 14, 20210Comments

Articles Debt Economy Inflation Labour

The labour shortage conundrum: What economists are missing in their hunt to explain the record number of job vacancies

Why the stay-at-home rate amongst the 20-34 year old age group may be the missing link in explaining the record number of job vacancies and labour shortages in the developed world – especially in Anglo-Saxon countries. And the long-run consequences could be dire: Both in economic terms – Labour shortages may be far more…

ByGeorge PhilipasOctober 14, 20210Comments

Africa Manufacturing Published South Africa Trade

SA must clean up its act in Africa – Its future depends on it

The African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement (AfCFTA) should be the catalyst for a much-needed overhaul of South Africa’s foreign policy on the continent. Underfunded for too long, overstretched and ideologically shackled to the guilt of its apartheid past, it is time for a more pragmatic approach. The country’s future depends on it.

ByGeorge PhilipasSeptember 2, 20210Comments

Africa Ethiopia Greece Greeks Published South Africa

A New Chapter in Greek-African relations or just a flash in the pan?

Following a recent flurry of diplomatic activity by Greece on the African Continent, the article inquires why the sudden interest and examines whether Greece can follow through with action to fulfill its stated goal of becoming a “bridge between Africa and Europe” as Greek Minister of Foreign Affairs, Nikos Dendias, recently said. The piece includes…

ByGeorge PhilipasAugust 5, 20210Comments

Articles Economy Inflation Journalism

The source of inflation that nearly no-one is focused on and everyone needs to worry about…

The spotlight on inflation, and whether or not it is just a passing phase as economies re-open, is missing the bigger picture. Long-term changes to “just-in-time” supply chains that were already underway before the pandemic and super-charged by it will ultimately lead to persistently higher inflation in advanced economies. And especially if…

ByGeorge PhilipasAugust 3, 20210Comments

Articles Debt Economy Inflation

Why worries about inflation are missing the point…It’s the debt (and low productivity) stupid… We are in the last days of the post-1945 economic miracle

While all eyes are focused on inflation, the real underlying problem is the total debt – both public and private combined – that advanced economies have accumulated since 1945 and has gone into overdrive since the GFC in 2008.

ByGeorge PhilipasAugust 3, 20210Comments

Cyprus Cyprus Mail Greek-Cypriot Greeks Published South Africa

A sense of continuity for the South African Cypriot diaspora

A look at the Cyprus Brotherhood of South Africa and how they have survived and thrived since 1934.

ByGeorge PhilipasJune 21, 20210Comments

Articles Palestine Political Commentary USA

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Why the eternal struggle may not be so eternal for much longer.

While many commentators are raising their proverbial arms in the air and decrying the intractability of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the current violence may have exposed a path to an end game – for better or for worse – between the two sides.

As familiar as the eternal and depressing rocket exchange between Hamas and the IDF is, causing predictable and well-trodden consequences and damage, it seems that this this time the confrontation feels different in scope.

ByGeorge PhilipasMay 17, 20210Comments

Cyprus Cyprus Mail Greeks Published South Africa Sudan

Where have all the Greeks gone? The story of Greeks in Africa

A look at the rise and fall in numbers of the Greek diaspora in the African continent, from late 19th century and colonial times right through to present day.

ByGeorge PhilipasApril 5, 20210Comments