Iran: Back in business

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has started a shopping tour in Europe just days after the lifting of international sanctions over Iran’s nuclear programme.

He wants to let the world know that Iran is back in business. And European companies are lining up for a share in the Iranian market – promising billions of dollars in new deals. 

But what does the end of Iran sanctions mean for the global economy? 

As President Rouhani is signing billion-dollar deals to rebuild his country, we look at the biggest new market entering the global economy in decades.

Nigeria: Flirting with disaster?

Also on this episode of Counting the Cost: More pain than gain in the oil-rich Niger Delta region as low oil prices spell bad news for Nigeria’s economy.

With low oil prices and Nigeria’s currency under devaluation pressure, is Nigeria flirting with disaster? 

Yvonne Ndege reports on the economic storm clouds facing Africa’s biggest economy.

Zambia and the end of the commodity boom

Zambia is one of the countries feeling the effects of falling commodity prices.

The country’s economy relies heavily on copper, but prices have hit a six-year low. The metal is often used as a barometer for global demand growth because of its widespread use in manufacturing.

Thousands of people have lost their jobs as mining companies across the country are shutting down operations. 

We find out why the decade-long commodity boom appears to be ending and how it affects ordinary people and the global economy.