The Emerging Markets Podcast by Tellimer

Ely Sandler, Co-founder and Managing Partner of the Article Six Group and Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, joins Tellimer Founder Duncan Wales⁠⁠ to explain why the cost of capital is the biggest barrier to investment in emerging markets, and why we know so little about it. Working with colleagues at Harvard and Oxford, Ely has built the first large-scale dataset of private sector borrowing costs across 66 developing economies, using transaction-level data from many of the largest EM investors. The findings challenge long-held assumptions: sovereign borrowing costs barely predict what private projects pay, and around half of projects borrow below their own government. They discuss the “investor confidence effect”, where an investor’s lending rate in a country falls by 220 basis points over its first five deals, and what this means for blended finance. The episode also covers how rising interest rates and electrification put pressure on EM financing, the shift from aid to export credit, and whether the EM risk premium comes down to information asymmetry.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Kevin T. Carter, Founder and CIO of EMQQ Global, returns to join Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to look at how artificial intelligence has reshaped emerging market investment opportunities. Drawing on Kevin's two decades in emerging markets and his career building index strategies, the conversation examines how emerging markets have outperformed the S&P 500 since January 2025. Much of that gain comes from just three companies: TSMC, Samsung and SK Hynix. They explore how concentrated the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has become, and why the question of whether Korea counts as an emerging market has split the returns of the largest EM funds. They map the AI opportunity across its five layers, from power and chips to data centres, models and applications. The episode also covers China's AI Tigers, why low-cost open-weight Chinese models are winning adoption among US companies, and the growing debate over AI safety and regulation between Washington, Beijing and the AI labs.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Maria-Jose Alvarez, Head of Client Success at Tellimer, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to review an extraordinary first half of 2026 for emerging markets, and look ahead to the second. Drawing on Maria-Jose's work with Tellimer's analysts and international clients, the conversation examines the US and Israeli strikes on Iran, the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and the inflationary shock that followed, alongside Venezuela's political transition following the removal of Nicolas Maduro, and the prospects for Ukraine. They explore the political realignment across Latin America, and why emerging market equities have outperformed developed peers, led by chip and technology suppliers.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Dr Mohamad Al-Ississ, Macro and Geopolitical Strategist and former Finance Minister of Jordan, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to examine how a new era of geopolitical fragmentation is fundamentally reshaping the calculus for emerging market investors, sovereigns and corporations. Drawing on Mohamad's decade of leading Jordan's fiscal and economic policy, and his subsequent work advising boards and institutions on macro strategy and sovereign risk, the conversation examines why the world has shifted from optimising for efficiency to competing on resilience, and what that means for sovereign differentiation across emerging markets. They explore how AI is less a software story for EMs than an infrastructure and human capital imperative, and why energy policy has become inseparable from industrial and defence strategy. The episode also covers the corridor economies of Turkey and Azerbaijan, the risks of fiscal short-termism, and why career-safe index investing is increasingly a dangerous bet.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Alaa Bushehri, Head of Emerging Market Debt at BNP Paribas Asset Management, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to examine why investors in emerging markets remain invested through successive waves of global volatility. Drawing on Alaa's more than two decades with the BNP Paribas Group, the conversation examines how improved asset class fundamentals, stronger central bank credibility and diversified financing channels have kept spreads contained and sustained investor confidence. They explore the divergence between emerging market and developed market monetary cycles, with EM central banks demonstrating an unprecedented willingness to ease independently of the Fed. The episode also covers the structural case for local currency over hard currency, the outlook for de-dollarisation, idiosyncratic opportunities from Brazil and Colombia to Egypt, and how EM policymakers are better positioned to deploy fiscal tools ahead of monetary ones in navigating inflationary pressures.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Mike Gush, Partner at Baillie Gifford, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to examine why the investment case for emerging markets has fundamentally shifted. Drawing on Mike's two decades managing emerging market equities at Baillie Gifford, the conversation examines how the asset class has matured beyond its reputation for volatility, with stronger fiscal foundations and a new generation of world-class companies. They explore emerging markets' central role in the global AI supply chain and energy transition, from chip manufacturing and battery technology to critical minerals. The episode also covers the contrasting opportunities in China and India, digital leapfrogging across Latin America and Southeast Asia, and the renewed case for active stock selection over index exposure.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Frederique Dahan, Director of the Development and Public Finance Programme and Principal Research Fellow at ODI Global, joins Tellimer Founder and CEO Duncan Wales to discuss the evolving role of development finance in mobilising private capital for emerging markets and developing economies. Drawing on Frederique's two decades at the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development and her research at ODI Global, the conversation examines why the promise of turning billions into trillions through blended finance has largely failed to materialise, and what a more credible mobilisation agenda looks like. They explore how development finance institutions are rethinking their models, from originate-to-distribute strategies and risk-transfer mechanisms to closer integration with national development banks and local capital markets. The episode also covers the tension between bespoke deal-making and the standardisation required to attract institutional investors at scale, the implications of shrinking official development assistance, and how a shifting balance of global economic power is reshaping the relationship between DFIs and the countries they serve.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

Natalie Chiaramonte, President of Sovereign Risk Insurance, joins Tellimer Founder & CEO Duncan Wales to discuss how political risk insurance functions as a critical enabler of long-term investment and lending in emerging markets. Drawing on Natalie's expertise in sovereign credit and trade finance, the conversation examines how underwriters assess sovereign creditworthiness beyond the numbers, weighing political stability, institutional quality, and policy credibility alongside the hard data. They explore how the business approaches multi-year financing commitments in volatile environments, why remaining a consistent and reliable partner through periods of stress is central to the sovereign risk model, and what distinguishes disciplined underwriting from opportunistic risk taking. The episode also covers how emerging market resilience has structurally improved since 2022, the role political risk insurance plays in mobilising private capital into otherwise uninvestable markets, and why the product is increasingly seen as a foundational tool for sustainable EM investment.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Phoenix Kalen, Global Head of Emerging Markets Research at Societe Generale Corporate and Investment Banking, joins Tellimer Founder & CEO, Duncan Wales, to discuss the investment implications of the US and Israeli attacks on Iran and what the conflict means for emerging markets across the short and long term. Drawing on Phoenix's deep expertise in sovereign debt, credit, and EM strategy built across institutions including RBS and JP Morgan, the conversation examines which economies stand to win and lose from elevated oil prices and supply disruption, why the market reaction has been notably more contained than the Russia-Ukraine shock of 2022, and what that tells us about the structural maturation of emerging markets as an asset class. They also explore the ongoing shift away from dollar-denominated assets, whether EM carry trades can recover, the growing case for local currency bond markets on their own merits, and why the old framework of treating emerging markets purely as a spread product over US Treasuries is increasingly difficult to defend.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. 

Hasnain Malik⁠, Head of Investment Strategy at ⁠Tellimer⁠, joins ⁠Tellimer⁠ Founder & CEO, ⁠Duncan Wales⁠, to discuss the rapidly escalating conflict between the US, Israel, and Iran, and the potential consequences for global markets. Drawing on Hasnain’s three decades of experience in MENA and analysing geopolitics and emerging market investment strategy, the conversation explores whether the war could expand across the region, what a destabilised Iran might mean for Middle East politics, and why a collapse of the Iranian regime could open the door to even greater instability. They also examine the risks to global energy supply through the Strait of Hormuz, the political pressures facing leaders in Washington and Tel Aviv, and how investors should think about positioning in emerging markets if oil prices and geopolitical risk remain elevated.The Emerging Markets Podcast by ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ – Emerging Markets, Connected. Check out the full Tellimer offering ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠. The Emerging Markets Podcast dives into a range of topics in the emerging and frontier market world including investment themes, debt restructuring, elections, and geopolitical tensions.DISCLAIMERThis podcast is provided for information purposes and represents the personal opinions of the speakers. It is not an offer or solicitation for investment in any securities, nor should it be regarded as investment advice. Tellimer Technologies Limited does not offer or provide advice and no mention of a particular security in this podcast constitutes a recommendation to buy, sell or hold that or any security, portfolio of securities, or enter any transaction or investment strategy. Nor is any such mention an indication that any investment is suitable for any specific person.For more information, please visit ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Tellimer.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.