People & Profit

Geologists around the world are calling it the "new gold rush". We ask why companies are rushing to capitalise on white or natural hydrogen, with our guest Minh Khoi Le. He is the head of hydrogen research at business intelligence company Rystad Energy. According to the firm, 40 companies were searching for this "white gold" across the globe at the end of 2023, including in the US, Canada, France, Albania, South Korea and Colombia. Back in 2020, only 10 companies were involved. 

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First gas, then grain – does Italy have a Russia problem? Our correspondents meet those impacted by the surge in Russian wheat imports.

And we head to Egypt to see how skyrocketing inflation is affecting those celebrating the holy month of Ramadan.

The collapse of the Rana Plaza garment factory in Bangladesh 11 years ago revealed the poor working conditions endured by people serving the global fast fashion industry. What were the lessons learned and has consumer and corporate behaviour changed since then? With EU countries still divided over key new legislation on supply chain due diligence, we discuss what it would mean for companies and consumers with Abbie Morris, co-founder and CEO of Compare Ethics.

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• As West Africa's cacao harvest season draws to a close, many farmers are desperate as bad weather and plant diseases have destroyed their crops, pushing global cocoa prices to record levels. 

   

• Plus, it's a possible solution to a labour shortage among a shrinking, ageing population. Delivery robots are being tested on the streets of Tokyo after the Japanese government changed traffic laws. 

In its Global Economic Prospects report, the World Bank reaches the conclusion that we are in a "decade of wasted opportunity", where instead of being on track to reach key development and climate goals by 2030, we have seen the slowest half-decade of growth in 30 years. This is having devastating consequences, especially in developing and low-income economies. For more, FRANCE 24's Charles Pellegrin speaks to the World Bank's Deputy Chief Economist Ayhan Kose. 

Israel's offensive in Gaza following the October 7 Hamas attacks is reverberating in the West Bank. While not directly involved in the conflict, the Palestinian territory's economy lies in tatters, in part because Israel revoked work permits for 130,000 Palestinians in the West Bank. We speak to a Palestinian entrepreneur about the broader challenges of running a business in the territory, including checkpoints, Israeli occupation and blocked financial flows. Amal Daraghmeh Masri is CEO and editor-in-chief of Middle East Business News and of Ougarit group, based in Ramallah.

Also in the programme:

• Erdogan's economics: Turkey's rollercoaster struggle against inflation

Keeping interest rates low, then pushing them up: FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer zeroes in on Turkey's tumultuous fight against skyrocketing inflation.

• Far-right fears: Rise of AFD party worries German companies

Leaving the EU, abandoning the euro and restricting immigration: in Germany, the far right's ideas are fuelling fears among businesses, as our correspondents report.

From Paris to Berlin, from Warsaw to Brussels, this week farmers stepped up their protests against the European Green Deal and hikes in diesel taxes, all against a backdrop of inflation, climate change and competition from Ukrainian imports. Tractors have been blocking highways and sending a message to governments as well as the public: "the people who feed you are having trouble feeding themselves". We speak to a cereal grower about the agricultural sector's challenges and the reasons behind the protests. 

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• Evergrande ordered to liquidate: What's next for China's property sector?

A court in Hong Kong has ordered China's debt-ridden property developer Evergrande to liquidate. Our Business Editor Yuka Royer looks at the dramatic three years that have brought the Chinese real estate sector to its knees.

• Strategic minerals: California community awaits benefits of lithium deposit

And we head to the Salton Sea in Southern California, where lithium reserves could help transform local communities and the national auto industry.

This week we bring you two conversations from the World Economic Forum in Davos. The rise of artificial intelligence and the green transition are two of the most pressing issues of our day. We see how these two seemingly distinct topics overlap with Georges-Olivier Reymond, CEO of French supercomputer maker Pasqal and Olivier Blum, Schneider Electric's executive vice president.

This week, we bring you a special edition of People & Profit from the snowy Swiss resort of Davos as it hosts the annual World Economic Forum. Where will the global economy land in 2024 amid a spike in geopolitical tensions and a growing risk of fragmentation? We speak with Gita Gopinath, First Deputy Managing Director of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). 

Also in the programme:

• Chip war: How AI is transforming the semiconductor industry

As artificial intelligence advances in leaps and bounds, how is the global chip industry navigating the era of AI Everywhere? We hear from top Intel executive Christoph Schell.

• To the Moon and beyond: The future of space exploration

Racing to the Moon and beyond, or fostering global cooperation? We talk to Matthias Maurer, an astronaut at the European Space Agency (ESA), about the future of space exploration.

The world is entering the "Voldemort of years", according to political risk consultancy Eurasia Group. In its annual report released this week, "Top Risks for 2024," it says the US presidential election will pose the greatest political risk to the world in 2024, no matter who wins. The Eurasia Group ranked the violence in the Middle East as the second-greatest global risk this year, followed by Ukraine. Ian Bremmer is president and founder of Eurasia Group and GZERO Media. He discussed the top risks in greater detail with FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer.

2023 has been a tough year for the global diamond industry. After a boom during the pandemic, prices of the precious stone have dropped significantly amid oversupply, higher interest rates and increasing competition from lab-grown gems. And starting on New Year's Day, EU members will no longer be allowed to buy diamonds that come directly from Russia, unless the stones are intended for industrial purposes. FRANCE 24's Yuka Royer asks industry analyst Paul Zimnisky how much impact these sanctions could have.

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Geopolitical tensions and climate change are putting Italy's culinary staple at risk. Our correspondents report on how the country's pasta industry continues to face a crisis. 

And a grand Hindu temple in northern India is set to open soon. The multi-billion-euro project is slated to boost the local economy, but some are feeling left out of the boom. We take a closer look.

With Christmas just around the corner, we take a closer look at what's driving trends this holiday season. Corks will be popping, but maybe not as many as in the past few years. We discuss the state of France's champagne sector with Faustine Konrat, a small champagne producer in the region.  

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How much money do they generate and how bad are they for the environment? We take a closer look at the Christmas tree industry. 

Plus, the trend of offering recycled Christmas presents continues to grow, with more and more people also willing to receive them.