Insights

Ideas shaped by experience.

Short pieces on trade systems, investment and the unglamorous machinery of delivery. Written when we have something specific to say.

Field Note · 2 September 2026

The Infrastructure Trap: Why Efficient Terminals Aren't Enough

Ports handle far more than cargo. They carry the cost of doing business. When a port underperforms, businesses pay for it, and those costs show up in the price of everyday goods, competitiveness and investment decisions. Better infrastructure helps, but it is only part of the answer.

Field Note · Investment

Working Backwards from Capital: What It Takes to Anchor Manufacturing Investment in Africa

Attracting manufacturing investment takes far more than a convincing pitch. Investors want to know whether the economics stack up and whether the operating environment will remain reliable long enough for them to recover their investment. Bridging this gap requires addressing the unvarnished, hard questions that shape commercial calculations behind closed doors.

4 July 2026

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