Aerospace & Marine International (AMI)’s Post

Reflecting on 2024 and Looking Ahead to 2025 As 2024 draws to a close, I find myself reflecting on a year filled with blessings and challenges. We have witnessed humanity's incredible resilience as we grappled with the aftermath of COVID-19, navigated economic uncertainties, and endured the devastations of natural disasters and ongoing conflicts. These trials remind us of life's fragility and the strength we find in unity and compassion. The significance of global peace, justice, and a rules-based international order has never been more apparent in our interconnected world. The challenges of this past year have shown us that no nation or individual stands alone; our shared humanity binds us together. By embracing collaboration, understanding, and equity, we can pave the way for a more peaceful and prosperous 2025. I am profoundly grateful to everyone I have interacted with throughout this year—whether in professional endeavours, personal connections, or fleeting moments of engagement. Your contributions, support, and insights have enriched my journey, and I hope I have equally enriched yours. As we enter 2025, let us remain steadfast in hope, honesty, and hard work. These timeless virtues anchor us and guide us toward a brighter future. Together, we can overcome adversity, inspire progress, and create a world where everyone has the opportunity to thrive. Wishing you and your loved ones a peaceful, healthy, and prosperous New Year. May 2025 bring us closer to the global unity and justice we all aspire to achieve.

Take actions Today for better Tomorrow

After catching my breath after a week of events at the World Bank-IMF Spring meetings, I had the chance to sift through U.S. International Development Finance Corporation's 100-page Annual Report. All I can say is "Wow!" When Congress established DFC with a new and dual mandate of advancing development AND foreign policy, many worried that it couldn't do both. This Annual Report begs to differ. This report is filled with data that demonstrates how DFC can advance development on a sector-wide basis. It also provides details of the development impact of each individual deal. As a taxpayer, I look at this Annual Report and understand what I'm getting for my money. It's clear on p. 7 what DFC is accomplishing -- not fluff, but straight up numbers about how peoples' lives are being impacted on a sector-wide basis. That's why we invest in development. So what's the issue? DFC has demonstrated that with its limited resources, it can accomplish a lot. But it can do so much more if it is unleashed and with few little tweaks (as per my other blogs). Imagine what DFC could do if it is properly resourced with little bit more money, a bit more flexibility, and more people. For example, DFC only was able to visit just over 50 projects last year for monitoring purposes -- that's pretty good, but not enough. If DFC can scale its ground game and get closer to the countries countries and deals, it can grow its portfolio in a significant way. More people on the ground. More people focused on the really hard stuff like financing in fragile areas (as per DFC's recent loan portfolio guarantee in Iraq and its work in Ukraine), more deals in low income countries and in the Amazon. More long-term financing for forest conservation projects. More investment in African manufacturing, distributed renewable energy, and transmission and distribution infrastructure. Don't get me wrong, DFC is doing it, but it could do even more, and this Annual Report is proof of its successful model and its limitless potential. DFC is uniquely positioned among all the DFIs to really move the needle on development and to offer an alternative to the Belt & Road Initiative, given that it does not need to borrow money from capital markets or earn a positive return for its shareholders (we, the US taxpayers, are the “shareholders”) which means that it can structure its deals to prioritize development or foreign policy impact over return. That's incredibly powerful. Keep up the great work, DFC team! Jake Levine Larry Sacks Agnes Dasewicz Nisha Biswal Scott Nathan Elizabeth Boggs Davidsen James Polan Mateo Goldman John Sachs Nancy Rivera Danielle Montgomery Maryam Khosharay Jane Rhee Naz El-Khatib Chris Walker Neonu Jewell, JD, MBA, MDiv Nafisa Jiwani Jeff Moore Julie Bulgrin Alison Germak Jody M. Dia Martin, CFA Nadia Rhazi Khawar David Riposo Aparna Shrivastava

I found this post to be very interesting. Clearly, a league table featuring best to worst. But also need to consider the starting point. Look at the EM vs the DM. A fascinating look, with some idiosyncratic subplots and a value stories embedded within. Jacqueline, thanks for sharing! Something to think about.

PACIFIC SUNS...PACIFIC DESTINIES! Many of us Pacifikas Born, perhaps some, like me, in the early morns... On coral islands Under coconut trees At the rises of the Eastern suns Reflecting across our beloved tropical waters... Us, Pacifikas, men, women Living, working and immersed now, within... Developing societies Changing Times, Organisations transforming, Leaders' legacies, Coming and going Through nations oscillating Thriving and struggling economically, socially, culturally, psychologically..... Pacifikas All You me, we... remain proud and strong... Stand up to any intruder, predator, neo-colonial Fight for good of each and every one of us Men, women, boys, girls All equal, fair, just and together as family True to our values, seared under our Eastern sun Smart, and smarter for our people True to the oceans that spawned us, the islands that nurtured us, and the creatures with which we coexist And Now... At the descent of the distant tropical sun And the rising of the tides Look across our sacred blue waters ... and ask yourself: What has it all been for...? And, what can I do now for my future generations? How do I help to change the forces for a better, healthier, stronger Pacific? How do I ensure wisdom of elders and youth? Is it through continual Learning? How do I ensure a strong Pacific tribe? How do I galvanise our Pacific diaspora? How do I contribute value to People Change, Institutional Change, Attitudinal Change, Social, Economic and Cultural Change? How do I contribute for the betterment of the lives of our young Pacifika, and old ones Of our island nations? For me...as a change agent Thinking back to navigating through the reefs of coral in Pacific waters Long time passing... On my canoe in an idyllic childhood My destiny has always been... and always will be... "Leading with People through Change for each and every human's good", ...fairly, openly, justly, positively in some way ... with different people...in all sorts of complex organisations. In the journey: Always strongly focussed upon "Goodness of Human kind" in organisations changing.... with institutional policies, programs, practices, and processes of change for services and products to others. That Change task... That Leadership destiny... Is now and always was in the hands of the Universe... What is your Pacific Purpose? What is your Pacific Destiny?

MASTERING HARMONY The areas where we excel and feel confident are those where, like the maestro of an orchestra, we have mastery over every detail. We can orchestrate each component, knowing exactly when and how to bring them #together to create harmony—even with our eyes closed. The true mark of mastery is not in the perfection of each detail but in the ability to coordinate these elements so that, together, they produce something greater than the sum of their parts: a perfect symphony. A perfect symphony doesn't require each note or musician to be flawless in isolation (local optimum). Instead, it's about the overall effect, where everything works seamlessly together to create a cohesive and powerful performance (system optimum). Consider the miracle of the Israeli Kibbutz movement. If you examine any Kibbutz closely, you'll find many imperfect individuals—like my parents, brothers, sisters, and friends. Yet, when these imperfect people work together, they create something magical. When this magic endures, it transforms into sustainable prosperity, as demonstrated by the advanced agro-industry, other industries, and thriving communities they built. This magic can last a day or a thousand years - as long as the symphony remains well-orchestrated. When we aim to lift millions of smallholders from poverty to prosperity, we must aim for the holistic management of all orchestra parts. Excellent results can emerge even when individual details are imperfect, as long as the overall harmony is maintained. As we reflect on this journey, we come to a powerful realization: when the various components of the agro sector work in harmony, the potential for prosperity is immense, resonating across the entire nation. This should inspire all of us to work together toward this common goal. To the complete column - https://lnkd.in/djimhwJU?

We always wish and expect the new year will bear fruits, that things will change, but is that really for the better? We can legitimately expect and hope 2025 to be a better year than 2024: wars around the world, antisemitism skyrocketting, national debts in the abyss and of course, international instances that are supposed to keep at least a slight of sense of morality (UN, CPI and so on) that are deeply rotten. But what did we do to make it better? I mean, of course there are always some people who know how to make a profit out of catastrophic situations, so there is no reason that these ones actually make a step out of the current path, but what do all the others do to make a difference? To hope a difference? To seed a difference? Well, I am not sure 2025 will be better, because I do not believe in Santa Claus, being a good boy will not bring or surround me with a better environment or situation. The current course of event does not exactly make me optimistic. I do believe though, that if we want to make it a better year, we all need to make our effort. Obviously, we do not have all the same targets, so will not displace the flow in the exact same direction, but at least, a general direction of mutual respect, of standing against terror and not being moved by futile games and low gains would be a good start. Below is a picture of a mozaic harvested from an archeological site in Israel, given to the new museum of the knesset, where this latter was located originally. It says "shalom al Israel", which could be translated as "peace be upon Israel" or could be understood as "God guards Israel", as Shalom is one of God's names. The knesset has always been the place where ideas are debated and agreed upon, even in ancient Israel, in Jerusalem, for thousands of years. Well, I think taking the knesset, this temple of democracy, where discussion rages but majority is followed, as en example is a good starting point for our deeds in 2025

https://lnkd.in/eWXXAFSV I gave this talk via Zoom to Volusia Buddhist Fellowship this week, in response to questions about how to engage peacefully with a not-so-peaceful world.

*Hope for the New Year 2025* As we step into 2025, let us embrace the promise of a brighter tomorrow. To all across the world, especially those who feel forgotten or face struggles too heavy to bear, know this: you are not alone. Every dawn brings a new opportunity to dream, to rebuild, and to believe. Together, we can create a world where no one is left behind, where kindness prevails, and where compassion is the foundation of our actions. May this year ignite hope in the hearts of the hopeless, bring comfort to the weary, and inspire us all to extend a helping hand to those in need. The smallest gestures can spark the greatest change. Let 2025 be a year of unity, healing, and endless possibilities. Hope lives within us, and together, we can make it shine brighter than ever. With hope and solidarity.

I hope you're healthy in 2025. Let us welcome this year with an open heart and mind, celebrating fresh beginnings. We should cultivate compassion and patience in our daily encounters, especially in challenging situations. Please listen more and judge less in a society divided by differences. With education and respect, diverse opinions can be beneficial. Our political or ideological differences aside, we all want a better tomorrow. This year, focus on unity rather than division. We all value humanity, compassion, justice, and decency. Only common values can help us bridge gaps and establish a more harmonious society. May we follow with the iron will to be compassionate, wisdom to be patient, and courage to join for an ambitious future in the next year. Wishing you a year of understanding, growth, and meaningful connections.