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The report compares the soap, detergent, and cosmetics sectors in South Africa and Zambia, noting that while South Africa has a more mature industry, both face capacity and competitiveness challenges. Zambia struggles with a trade deficit and poor packaging quality, while South African small firms face high input costs and regulatory barriers. The authors recommend developing natural product lines, operationalising industrial clusters, and improving supermarket access to foster regional import substitution.

The document argues that for China to transition into a major global economic player, its businesses must move beyond legal compliance to embrace voluntary sustainability standards. It identifies a current trend of avoidance among CTNCs due to unfamiliarity and perceived Western bias, which risks damaging 'Brand China'. The authors propose a strategic framework—normalization, exceptionalism, and transformation—to help CTNCs and the Chinese government decide whether to ignore, mitigate, leverage, or promote specific standards to move up the global value chain.

The document outlines the growth potential for mining technology, which includes processes to improve environmental performance and the extraction of minerals for renewable energy and electric vehicles. It highlights a growing 'smart mining' market and notes that while small tech companies are attracting investment, large multinational firms from Canada, the US, and Australia dominate the sector. For Canada, advantages include a high share of global exploration investment and strategic access for US importers, though regulatory barriers and the financial risks of technological leadership persist.