The landlocked and fragile countries’ ability to create a sustainable path to economic growth and poverty reduction is inextricably linked to their export diversification potential, itself related to their connectivity within themselves, in the region, and other external markets. Mali, Chad, and Niger are first challenged by their geography—their landlocked nature with their vast and thinly populated space serves to isolate the most vulnerable communities from external and internal markets. Adding to these geographic disadvantages non-landlocked is incentive environment—defined by high and variable customs common external tariff regimes resulting from multiple overlapping regional trade arrangements—places a wedge between domestic and international prices, provides a disincentive to exports in favor of non-tradable and domestic-oriented sectors. By bringing greater coherence and convergence between the many common external tariff regimes in operation and the rationalization of their structures, and improving connectivity within and between markets, Mali, Chad, Niger, and Guinea can better promote the reallocation of resources toward tradable goods and services, putting the countries on a path toward greater economic inclusion and sustainable growth.

The analysis of the accumulation and export of nutrients by the cowpea crop is fundamental for a more sustainable fertilization program, because the definition of the doses of organic fertilizers based only on the estimated maximum yield does not guarantee the maintenance of soil fertility. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of fertilization with chicken manure on the productivity, accumulation and exportation of nutrients by the pods of cowpea. A randomized block design was used, with five doses of chicken manure (0; 5; 10; 20 and 40 t ha^-1) and four repetitions. The highest levels of P and Mg were found in the leaves with the application of 40 t ha^-1 of manure. The maximum pod length was 14.47 cm, estimated with the dose of 33.33 t ha^-1 of manure. The highest values of diameter, number of pods per plant and pod productivity were observed at the highest dose of manure applied. In relative terms, that is, total exported in relation to the total extracted by the aerial part, phosphorus is the nutrient most exported by the pods, on average 58%, followed by N (55%), K (43%), Mg (40%), S (38%) and Ca (17%). At the highest dose, although Ca accumulation occurred in large quantities (31.3 kg ha^-1), only 13% of it was exported by the pods. Fertilizing cowpea with chicken manure supplied essential nutrients and increased pod yield from 7.2 (no fertilization) to 16.3 t ha^-1 (fertilization with 40 t ha^-1 of chicken manure). The plant remains of the cowpea constitute an important source of nutrients, being obtained at the highest dose of manure applied (40 t ha^-1) the following amounts of macronutrients (kg ha^-1): N (51.4); P (5.1); K (27.6); Ca (27.1); Mg (8.2); S (5.1), which may return to the soil, with the incorporation of the plants.

The project finance scenario has changed significantly around the world after the 2008 financial crisis and following the subsequent Basel III recommendations. Project finance loans from commercial banks and financial institutions have largely dried up, leaving it mostly to the export credit agencies and the bilateral and multilateral development banks to provide the institutional credit. Unfortunately, those sources are not enough, given the huge needs for construction of new infrastructure and renovation of the old ones across Asia, Africa and Latin America. The need for capital markets, through market listed financial products across asset class, unlocking a large part of domestic and corporate savings, has never been felt as strongly before. This article seeks to analyze the development story of various Asian capital markets and examine financial products, which have succeeded in their short history in receiving investor interest. The article also delves into the challenges to market development, policy imperatives and the issues relating to market liquidity and credit rating, which are the most significant influencers for public market float and investor interest.

Sweet cherry is a type of fruit that is high on demand in exports for table consumption. Turkey is a gene centre for sweet cherry fruit. Fruits are produced over an extended period because of the ecological richness and large cultivation area, which allows Turkey to remain as the leader of sweet cherry production in the world. The variety, ‘0900 Ziraat’, also known as the Turkish sweet cherry fruit, has the highest production volume. Mazzard and Mahaleb are the commonly used rootstocks for sweet cherry cultivation; and Mazzard is used more frequently than Mahaleb. Clonal rootstocks are used to maintain cultivation in new orchards. The present study provides a detailed information on the current status of sweet cherry fruit cultivation in Turkey as well as its cultivation practices and exports. It is targeted that modern irrigation techniques, good agricultural practices, and increased cultivation areas are established to maintain Turkey’s position as the leader in global sweet cherry production and exports.