March 2010 | Challenges in the Russian Energy Sector
Investors worldwide have their eyes on Russia, a global energy powerhouse. With 6 percent of the world’s oil reserves and a whopping 27 percent of gas reserves, the country ranks number two globally in hydrocarbons. Its oil and gas industry is in transition, however, and foreign investors keen to garner the benefits of Russia’s huge energy wealth face considerable challenges and risks. Opportunities in this market include those in the oilfield services and equipment manufacturing segment (OFS), which holds the greatest promise, while prospects in the exploration and production (E&P) segment are constrained by the government’s strategic interests. To succeed in either, investors must be adept at identifying and fulfilling the specific and often peculiar needs of Russia’s energy sector.
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April 2007 | Success on the Shelves
Europe’s market for private label goods is the most developed and advanced in the world, with such products representing over 35% of grocery retail sales in countries like the UK and Germany? Not surprisingly, in recent years private label has seen faster growth than manufacturer-branded goods in these nations and others, with retailers’ private label strategies becoming increasingly sophisticated—and profitable.
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April 2007 | Italian Luxury Goods
Italy is a country with a strong, lengthy history of entrepreneurialism in many areas. In addition to fashion, art, literature, and music, Italians became known over the centuries for a wide range of excellent products—olive oil from Tuscany, cheese from Reggio Emilia, and vinegar from Modena, just to name a few. Entrepreneurs and their resulting family enterprises have stood at the center of the Italian economy, which has greatly influenced Italians’ view of business.
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