William Lee Adams (3:14)

Of the developed countries, who's lagging behind?

Justin Rollette (3:17)

Well, the ones picked out in December report, they talk about the US and Europe and in the US there's a growth in electricity demand as we increasingly electrify so many things in our lives. New renewable power did not meet that increase in demand. It's actually a slightly different picture in Europe. The wind speeds were poor in Europe and drought, climate change meant there was less rain and therefore hydroelectric power, which still generates a lot of renewable energy, was much lower than normal and therefore that didn't meet the new increase in electricity demand in Europe. But these developed countries face very different challenges to developing countries. There you've got a well established electricity grid, really considerable electricity demand already, making the option of switching just to solar panels much more challenging.

William Lee Adams (4:05)

Justin, thanks for joining us on Marketplace.

Justin Rollette (4:07)

My pleasure, William.

William Lee Adams (4:08)

Here in the uk, police in London say they've dismantled an international gang suspected of smuggling up to 40,000 stolen cell phones from the UK to China over the past year. The phones are thought to fetch up to $5,000 each because they are unlocked and able to avoid censorship, unlike those sold legally. Here's the BBC's Seema.

Seema Kotecha (4:28)

The Metropolitan Police says it carried out the UK's largest operation against mobile phone theft, resulting in the arrest of 15 suspects and the discovery of more than 2,000 devices. Three people, including two Afghan men, have since been charged with conspiring to receive stolen goods. They're suspected of running an international smuggling gang. Figures show 80,000 mobiles were taken in London last year, almost triple the number stolen in 2020.

William Lee Adams (4:57)

Sima Kotecha let's do the numbers. Stocks in Taiwan, Singapore and Indonesia have hit record highs after a multi billion dollar chip supply deal between AMD and OpenAI. Taiwan's chip giant TSMC rose 3% on the news. The Chinese and South Korean markets closed for holidays. Elsewhere, Thailand's government has approved a $1.36 billion stimulus program which will reduce the cost of some food and consumer goods by up to 60%. Zimbabwe is on a quest to become Africa's blueberry capital after it recently signed a tariff free export protocol with China, one of the largest consumers of the fruit. The country's blueberry production is outpacing many other growers globally. It's expected to increase 50% this year to 12,000 tons. The BBC's Shingai Nyoka reports.

Narrator/Reporter (5:47)

In the cool of the early morning, workers file into a blueberry plantation to begin work. It's peak harvesting season and tons of berries must be reaped and packed before temperatures rise. Europe and the Middle east are major markets, but a trade agreement with China could make Zimbabwe a more significant global player. I've come to Laueta Farm. Scores of women are picking dark purple fruit from shoulder high bushes. They're separating the large quality berries for export. At another part of the farm, the land has been cleared and a new dam installed. Huge capital investment in anticipation of Chinese orders. Former international cricketer Alistair Campbell is determined to put Zimbabwe on the map, this time with blueberries.

Alistair Campbell (6:35)

Because of this China protocol and pending India protocol. This is where the growth is tangible growth and can happen very quickly providing the decks are cleared insofar as regulation is concerned and ease of doing business. So you attract foreign money and if you attract foreign money will be able to expand.

Narrator/Reporter (6:52)

So what would that mean for Zimbabwe's economy?

Alistair Campbell (6:55)

Well, huge. If we can expand to the level that we need to get to. There are funds out there that have money exactly for what we require, but we've been marginalised up to now.

Narrator/Reporter (7:04)

The farmers need over $100 million in order to double the acreage under berries to 1,500 hectares. But investors remain jittery about land tenure policies and perennial currency woes. It's time for tea and a roll call. I'm struck by the fact that almost all the reapers are women. 50 year old Rebecca Bonzo, a supervisor, explains to me that the farm has transformed a community plagued by high unemployment. Hundreds of women, many who are sole breadwinners, can now take care of their families, she said. Others see the access to new markets as a chance to diversify the players. In a Harare industrial area, packers are wrapping sugar snaps produced by numerous outgrowers. Exporter and contractor Clarence Mwale believes he can similarly integrate small scale farmers into the niche blueberries supply chain.

Clarence Mwale (8:07)

We have a contract to grow 2,000 hectares of blueberries. Using this small scale model, we target specific individuals who we know have capacity to grow blueberries. When the Chinese market opens up as it has now, it just gives us much more scope to look at where we were scrambling and fighting for the European market, which we haven't been able to fulfill. Now we've got a vast market that we need to feed. It gives everyone a chance to get into the blueberry production area.

Narrator/Reporter (8:37)

Zimbabwe will need to pass Chinese inspections before it can begin exports, but it will also need to build investor confidence in its quest to become Africa's blueberry capital.

William Lee Adams (8:49)

Shingai Nyoka There in the UK I'm William Lee Adams with the Marketplace morning report from the BBC World Service. Thank you for listening.

Million Bazillion Hosts (Ryan and Co-host) (9:04)

This week on Million Bazillion, Ryan and I are off to a sleepaway camp for podcasters where we meet up with some other podcast friends for a very special episode about animals and money. Together, we're going to tackle some very important questions, like what animals should be in charge of the economy.

William Lee Adams (9:20)

Well, like I said, there's plenty of crossover between the animal kingdom and your world of money.

Million Bazillion Hosts (Ryan and Co-host) (9:26)

Don't miss this special episode. Listen a million Bazillion on your favorite podcast app.