Business
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Cape crusader
Suddenly, everyone wants to be Cape Verde’s friend. From Nato to the US and China, all are drawn to the resource-poor islands for one reason: their powerful strategic location in the Atlantic.
El Centro
In the 1980s, the only deals done in Cartagena were for cocaine. Now drug barons are out and property kings are moving into one of Latin America’s most promising cities.
Canal plus
Thousands of Venezuelans have fled to Panama, which is attracting everyone from US retirees to multinationals and emerging as Latin America’s most vibrant and strategic centre.
Saint Charles
Natural cosmetics are popular in Austria, one of Europe’s top markets. A group of friends in Vienna with a passion for botany are championing local plants in their thriving collection of businesses.
Going for old
Though the Japanese love vintage, second-hand furniture auctions are new. Now, three entrepreneurs are bringing design classics to market in the country’s first modern and contemporary furniture auction.
Fashion
Monocle enjoys São Paulo fashion week Tomorrowland collaborates with Belgian designer Jean-Paul Knott, plus Prada platforms, Incotex trunks and Banana Republic comes to London.
Abel García López
In Paracho, Mexico’s guitar-making capital, some luthiers battle cheap imports. A few, like Abel García López, draw on generations of knowledge to produce concert-quality instruments for the world's top virtuosos.
Smooth landing
After 15 years, Heathrow's Terminal 5 is ready. In Singapore, the new T3 at Changi has also opened. Monocle travels to London and Singapore to bench test both of the new airport terminals.
Deli vision
Francesco Armandola’s Milan delicatessen opened in 1948. Now run by his son Giorgio, the shop continues to champion food with clear provenance, prioritising family-run firms above all else.
Ancestral spirits
China's bai jiu is the drink of choice for sealing business deals. Though its flavour is an acquired taste, major players like LVMH and Diageo are now investing in the potent spirit.
