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Angola is famed for its oil reserves, but the African nation is now seeking to become a global force in mining with a new code and National Geology Plan

Over the past decade, Angola has championed greater transparency in the diamond industry “through persistence, dedication and consistent support for the Kimberley Process”

State-owned Endiama is developing Angola's diamond industry by not only increasing profitability through efficiency, but also improving its social and environmental impact

Diamond extraction companies such as Chitotolo are working in areas economically unviable for bigger producers and ensuring impressive financial and social results

As the fourth largest diamond mine by value in the world, Catoca has been at the forefront of Angola’s drive to expand its mining operations

Education is a key part of Angola's 2025 development objectives and holders of mid-to-high level state posts are increasingly qualified through ENAD

Angola's leading retail company, Casacon is truly becoming a household name. In addition to its five physical shops – in Luanda, Viana, Lobito, Catumbela and Lubango – the 10-year old company also opened what was Angola’s first online store in 2010, which today boasts over 30,000 registered clients

Shaukat Tarin is a senior banker from Pakistan and former Finance Minister of Pakistan (from 2009 to 2010) in the Yousaf Raza Gillani-led government. Under his supervision, the country successfully negotiated with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a 23-month $7.6 billion bailout package, which boosted Pakistan's foreign exchange reserves and helped avert a sovereign default. On 7 October 2008, he was appointed adviser to the government and was elevated to the post of finance minister after being elected as a senator from Sindh on 27 July 2009. Tarin resigned from the ministry on February 23, 2010 to "raise equity from the market for Silkbank," which while working at finance ministry was "a clear conflict of interest." He served as an Executive Director of Silk Bank Limited until April 2011. Before his ministerial role, Tarin served as the country manager of Citibank and did tenures as head of Habib Bank, Union Bank, and twice as chairman of Karachi Stock Exchange. He currently sits on the board of Silk Bank

Economic development has led to rapid growth of the real estate sector, particularly residential as more and more Mongolians find themselves in a position to buy their own homes. Established in 1991, Odcon is one of leading construction companies in Mongolia. Mr L. Munkhbat, Executive Director of Odcon, speaks to Untied World about the development of the construction sector, his company and its commitment to employee development and welfare

It is an exciting time for the ports and shipping industry of Pakistan, with the establishment of new industrial zones and coal-fired power plants to power those zones; the upgrade of Port Qasim and the massive upgrade of Gwadar Port; funded by China, the port will soon become the starting point of the Pak-China economic corridor and the ideal gateway to the Far East. The majority of these port developments have been funded by the private sector on a build-operate-transfer (BOT) basis. Kamran Michael, Pakistan’s Minister of Ports and Shipping, speaks to Upper Reach about BOT opportunities and these new developments