Andrea Castro’s Post

"Costa Rica, a stable democracy that is vying to become the Silicon Valley of Latin America — with active support from the United States.Costa Rica is crucial to the gargantuan U.S. effort to reduce dependence on microchips from China." Traveling around the country now, I can attest to this. Latin American countries, particularly Costa Rica, Panama and Santo Domingo, offer a wealth of opportunities for U.S. investment and an alternative to the PRC and other distant supply chain points. Investing in high tech in the region further buttresses our national security. https://lnkd.in/egDmiXQS

Europe Can Prosper. But war is anchoring it down not so much lack of technological supremacy Why is Europe supposedly experiencing a dangerous technological gap with America and China as the conservative Economist magazine contends? Or as I contend from the following such a problem is not so bad but the war in Ukraine is more zapping its strength especially Germany's. It's cultural too explains why Nokia never really succeeded fully and the same in Canada why Blackberry died. I find the American firms in Silicon Valley in oarticular overall more aggressive to want to succeed and make money re Elon Musk who moved from Canada to America from Queen's University to Ivy League University of Pennsylvania. They have an absolute dedication to innovation, entrepreneurialism and winning almost at all cost. China is driven by survivalism in its markets. The next new product could be the next old product if you do not innovate fast enough. And a central authority going at gang busters to promote a technological revolution integrated with Belt and Road expansionism helps too. I see no serious changes because the cultures and objective conditions even in the intermediate tine intervalsc do not support it enough. I see tourism and education as the big industries with growth potential in Europe, Canada, Australia and New Zealand. With England having a more balanced position in all of these sectors. so be it , it is what it is. Liechtenstein does not have to be a tech giant, nor Canada with all its natural resources, education and stable banking appeal and the same with Australia. That does not mean in select tech like fintech and naturak resources and agricultural related tech that these countries will not go far. For Europe, less resources so a greater need to rely on finance, education, tourism , logistics and consultancy abroad.. Not so bad. Let Europe be Europe but more technologically driven. Sane for Australia and Canada. Now everyone have a herbal Chinese team https://lnkd.in/ex4gEHJ7

It could become more than that, but as I see it we have to work harder regarding public policies, companies policies and with our government to push from education through private companies to build a startup founders ecosystem that could allow thriving and move faster from idea to product/company build. Just the idea that we have no access to a smooth payment system to allow us to sell services and products easily to other countries is just a roadblock. #costarica #startup #founders #theblueprint #siliconvalley

Two steps forward, one step back? A new era in US-Japan "#geotech" relations: The United States is strengthening its #partnership with #Japan, aiming to boost #economic competitiveness and address security concerns amidst China's ascendence. Joint initiatives, including Japan's involvement in #AUKUS and collaborative #space missions, highlight the nations’ shared objectives in the Pacific. Jake Sullivan, the #WhiteHouse national security adviser, underscored the need to modernize the alliance beyond traditional security realms, emphasizing cooperation in #economics, #infrastructure and #technology. Opportunities to collaborate on high-tech (e.g. #batteries, #robotics, etc.) abound. But challenges such as #NipponSteel's bid to acquire #USSteel raise questions about integrating economic interests with #nationalsecurity imperatives and demonstrate how tenuous that proposition is, even between long-time allies. *Nothing* is simple in a world of interlocking "clubs," as we (with Mark Esposito, PhD and Terence Tse, PhD), describe in our book "The Great Remobilization: Strategies and Designs for a Smarter Global Future" (The MIT Press). But trust-focused design in policies as in supply chains is *everything.* Cambrian Futures | University of California, Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, Haas School of Business Dan Zehr | Tobias Straube | Manu Kalia | Rehan Khan | Stephen Goodman | Michael Jeffrey | J. Nicholas Gross | Julia Reinhardt | Adam Tatarynowicz | Burkhard Schrage | Tom Sanderson | Gladys Kuzmuk | Kirthi Kumar | Sana Pandey | Lauren May Hildenbrand | Ander Dobo | Ryan L. | David Babington

Look at how favourably situated Australia is in the world. As the foundations were put in place for the Asian Century, most profoundly by China, Australia was in the right place at the right time and it benefitted inordinately. Looking forward, as the rise of China continues and a range of Asian countries, including India, Indonesia and Vietnam, look set to follow suit, further marvellous opportunities beckon. And our response: Australia is now turning itself into a massively militarised American satellite state. How did we let this happen? By: Richard Cullen https://lnkd.in/gcFQGm8D

Under Secretary Jose W. Fernandez 🇨🇺🇺🇸 spoke about how the US is stengthening its economic ties with Latin America. Investing in the region is critical and can slow China’s incursion in the hemisphere. More on Miami’s WLRN Public Media “We're seeing interest on the part of the Latin American countries to look for investments from the United States, for example, in the semiconductor area. In the supply chain area. In critical minerals. These are all now opportunities for the region.” “We learned a lesson the hard way during the pandemic: You want to diversify your sources of supply… Every week, a country comes [to us] and says they believe that they can be our best nearshoring partner for critical minerals, for semiconductors, and for pharmaceutical products and medical equipment. So, for example, under the CHIPS Act, the State Department has received a hundred million dollars for each of five years, and we have now announced grants to Mexico, Costa Rica, and Panama, for things like helping to improve the talent of their workforce. And this is creating a race to the top.” https://lnkd.in/ef4NkUC5

Beijing’s mobilization to build a more self-reliant national innovation system should concern the U.S. for several reasons: Economic Competitiveness: China's push for technological self-reliance could undermine the U.S.'s economic competitiveness. If China succeeds in developing cutting-edge technologies independently, it could dominate global markets, impacting U.S. companies and industries. Technological Leadership: The U.S. has traditionally been a global leader in innovation and technology. China's efforts to build a robust domestic innovation system threaten this leadership. A shift in technological dominance could have wide-reaching implications for global influence and economic power. National Security: Technological advancements are closely tied to national security. If China gains superiority in critical technologies such as AI, quantum computing, and 5G, it could enhance its military capabilities and cyber warfare potential, posing a direct threat to U.S. national security. Supply Chain Dependence: The U.S. currently relies on global supply chains that include significant Chinese components. If China becomes self-reliant, it may reduce its export of key technologies and materials, leading to supply chain disruptions for U.S. industries. Geopolitical Influence: Technological prowess is a key component of geopolitical influence. As China strengthens its innovation system, it could expand its influence over other nations, particularly in developing regions, challenging U.S. geopolitical interests and alliances. Intellectual Property Concerns: China's drive for self-reliance may lead to increased competition in areas where the U.S. currently holds significant intellectual property. This could result in intellectual property disputes and economic tensions between the two countries. Global Standards and Norms: As China advances its technologies, it may seek to establish its own standards and norms in international bodies. This could lead to a fragmentation of global standards, complicating international trade and cooperation, and potentially sidelining U.S. preferences and influence. https://lnkd.in/gCvif36z

Ray Dalio recently wrote an article titled 𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝑺𝒆𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒅 𝑻𝒓𝒖𝒎𝒑 𝑨𝒅𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝑾𝒊𝒍𝒍 𝑪𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒈𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑾𝒐𝒓𝒍𝒅 𝑶𝒓𝒅𝒆𝒓 that’s sparking important conversations about the future of domestic and global dynamics. Dalio's analysis highlights how a second Trump administration could usher in profound changes—both within the U.S. and on the world stage. Key Insights from Dalio’s Article: 1️⃣ 𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝗚𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: Dalio suggests a corporate-style approach focused on cost-cutting, deregulation, and efficiency. Social welfare programs might take a backseat to economic pragmatism. 2️⃣ 𝗥𝗲𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗠𝘂𝗹𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗺: A more isolationist U.S. could deprioritize global institutions and alliances, favoring bilateral deals, which may weaken international norms and partnerships. 3️⃣ 𝗛𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗣𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗹𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝟭𝟵𝟯𝟬𝘀: Drawing from history, Dalio warns of similarities to the nationalist, hard-right governments of the 1930s, which deepened domestic polarization and global instability. 4️⃣ 𝗘𝗿𝗼𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗨.𝗦. 𝗚𝗹𝗼𝗯𝗮𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽: A less engaged U.S. might pave the way for a fragmented world order, with regional powers like China and Russia asserting greater influence. 5️⃣ 𝗚𝗲𝗼𝗽𝗼𝗹𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗘𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗥𝗶𝘀𝗸𝘀: Power vacuums, trade disruptions, and market volatility are possible outcomes of a U.S. shift toward protectionism and reduced global commitments. 𝗗𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗼’𝘀 𝗖𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗠𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗮𝗴𝗲: The world is at a critical crossroads. Policies under a second Trump administration could reshape the global balance of power, forcing regions to adapt to a multipolar reality. What are your thoughts? How might these shifts impact your region or industry? #raydalio #eu #europe #usa #mena #asia #africa #trump

🤔 Navigating Tensions between business and government: Germany’s Approach to China The evolving relationship between Germany and China is drawing attention, as differing perspectives emerge between the German government and the German business community in China. 🇩🇪 The German Government’s Concerns Through its embassy in China, the government has openly addressed pressing challenges: espionage, cyberattacks, and China’s implicit support of Russia’s war in Ukraine to name a few. These issues have led to a more cautious and critical stance towards Beijing. 🏢 The Business Perspective In contrast, the German business community in China appears to disagree with this approach, emphasizing the need to maintain and secure present and future business interests in the country. For these companies, stability in bilateral ties is critical for operations, investments, and market access. This tension raises broader questions: • How should countries balance security concerns with economic interests? • What strategies are other nations adopting in similar situations, particularly as global businesses grow more interconnected? 💬 What’s your take? Are these tensions unavoidable in today’s geopolitical landscape, or can a middle ground be found? Let’s explore how governments and businesses can align their priorities in navigating complex international relationships. #Germany #China #Geopolitics #InternationalBusiness

“Japan and the U.S. enjoyed ‘a unique, historic relationship thanks to long-standing economic and security agreements,’ and as a result, expansion into the U.S. was a ‘well-traveled path’ for Japanese companies, which are traditionally risk-averse.” While covering Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida's historic visit to the U.S., The Japan Times recently highlighted comments from Norihiko Tokeshi, HLS Global Managing Director, in an article delving into the economic and political relationship between the two countries. Read the full article, linked below, to discover how shared history and geopolitical alignment with the U.S. can be a boon for Japanese businesses entering the American market. #MarketEntry #geopolitics #USJapan