(Source: portugalemporium)
@cjkatt
By Cornelius Jannik Katt, Esq., S.O.
Mao alarm clock (thecricketchirps)
Make kittens, not war.
Badlands National Park, South Dakota (sadburro)
Across the globe, criminals have penetrated governments to an unprecedented degree. The reverse has also happened: rather than stamping out powerful gangs, some governments have instead taken over their illegal operations. In mafia states, government officials enrich themselves and their families and friends while exploiting the money, muscle, political influence, and global connections of criminal syndicates to cement and expand their own power. Indeed, top positions in some of the world’s most profitable illicit enterprises are no longer filled only by professional criminals; they now include senior government officials, legislators, spy chiefs, heads of police departments, military officers, and, in some extreme cases, even heads of state or their family members.
With nearly every news article written about their country highlighting the war, and considering Hollywood’s depiction of the conflict in the 2006 film Blood Diamond, citizens have become very mindful of how they appear to the rest of the world. …
The government has begun promoting Sierra Leone as a “land of opportunity,” as one of the most attractive destinations for investment in Africa, with untapped resources, a growing economy, fiscal incentives, a natural harbor, and hospitable people. The government has also embarked on ambitious infrastructure projects—building and repairing roads and investing in electricity production—and has focused on removing further barriers to investment by creating the Sierra Leone Investment and Export Promotion Agency (SLIEPA), which offers free advice to prospective investors and exporters and a joint chamber of commerce with the United States.
What’s more, the government has cooperated with the establishment of a special economic opportunity zone by a private nonprofit organization, which might represent the most promising model for attracting investors yet. Aptly named “First Step,” this industrial park, located just outside the capital city, Freetown, aims to facilitate foreign investment in Sierra Leone by reducing the risks and costs for international businesses to set up export processing industries. The government has committed to providing incentives for these businesses, including exemptions on import and export duties, expedited customs services, and corporate tax holidays.
