The deal, which will see Sinopec pay $3.1 billion in cash, represents the latest in a series of similar transactions by Chinese oil firms who are looking to secure energy supplies in order to meet growing domestic demand.

"Sinopec is an ideal partner for us, and we look forward to the growth and value generation ahead for both companies through the expansion of our collaboration to other projects," Steven Farris, chief executive of Apache, said in a statement.

Mr Holland’s words follow Gold Fields deal to purchase three mines in the Yilgarn South region of Western Australia from Barrick for $300 million. The three mines in question -Granny Smith, Darlot and Lawlers – produced 450,000 ounces of gold in 2012 and reported 2.6-million ounces of gold reserves plus 1.9-million ounces of gold resources at the end of December.

The Japanese carrier is to pay 2.5 billion yen ($25 million) to purchase the stake. The purchase represents the first time a foreign airline has invested in a Myanmar-based commercial airline.

Firms have been keen to enter Myanmar, seen as a key growth market, after political reforms led to the lifting of international sanctions. ANA resumed flights between the two countries in October last year after a twelve-year hiatus.

The Africa of the 21st century is often highlighted by the vast metropolitan cities that have been building up steadily to become centres of economic prosperity, yet the continents land is still home to a vast expanse of frontier land. It is on this land, particularly along coastal areas, that many of today’s most exciting oil and gas finds are being made. However, when it comes to operating in such areas, where logistical infrastructure is sometimes non-existent, it often calls for companies to rely on expert advice and local knowledge.

One of the founding members of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) international economic organisation and the Group of Twenty Finance Ministers and Central Bank Governors (G-20), Turkey possesses the world’s 15th largest gross domestic product by purchasing power parity. Defined as an emerging market economy by the International Monetary Fund (IMF), it is one of the planet’s newly industrialised countries.

Located in the Western Province of Kenya, Mumias is home to one of the country’s largest and most established businesses, Mumias Sugar Company. The history of the company dates back to 1967, when the government of Kenya first commissioned Booker Agriculture and Technical Services to carry out a feasibility study on the viability of growing sugarcane in Mumias, before then initiating a pilot project.

“I think it is fair to say that quite a lot has been happening since we last spoke in June 2012,” states Harmony’s CEO, Graham Briggs. “If you look at the last 18 to 24 months we have witnessed the incredible rise in gold prices, which was a particularly welcome relief from the cost pressures that had been mounting here in South Africa, and its subsequent come down, in addition to the well documented labour issues that have beset the mining sector.”

The time when small and medium sized businesses were only busy with local or national commerce is already far behind us. New technology and free-trade zones have made the world a much smaller place. Legislation has been simplified, import duties often reduced or removed to speed the passage of goods and services over international borders. Banks have made international finance easier as well, with payment transactions manageable online and facilitated by schemes like SEPA.