Around the planet, our 45 licensed editions span six continents, 27 languages and 14 time zones. They all share the same mission: celebrating entrepreneurial capitalism in all its forms.
ANGOLA
Since Edson dos Santos (no relation to former president José Eduardo dos Santos) joined Angolan energy company Somoil—now called Etu Energias—in 2020, crude oil production has nearly tripled to 17,000 barrels per day and turnover is approaching $450 million. The chairman is eyeing expansion to neighboring Namibia and beyond.
ARGENTINA
While building 10-year-old Workana into a leading freelancer platform in Latin America, Buenos Aires–based cofounder and chief operating officer Eliana Bracciaforte revealed her trans identity in 2022. The company serves more than 2 million registered workers, with more than 200,000 new users each month.
AUSTRALIA
“Turnaround boss” Christina Holgate has increased revenue 16% and reduced staff turnover by half since mid-2021 leading Melbourne-based logistics company Team Global Express. The former head of Australia’s postal service exited that position in 2020 amid controversy regarding expensive gift giving.
BULGARIA
Musala Soft, a Bulgarian software provider cofounded by Elena Marinova in 2000 with $34 million in 2022 revenue, was acquired early last year by Czech holding group ARICOMA, part of billionaire Karel Komárek’s KKCG investment group.
CHINA
As Hong Kong billionaire Vincent Lo, 75, plans semi-retirement, daughter Stephanie will take the reins of Shui On Land, the family’s public company known for developing Shanghai entertainment district Xintiandi. Her priorities include reducing carbon emissions.
COLOMBIA
Forbes Colombia presents the list of the country’s most powerful women— featuring (from left) Sandra Hinestroza, director of HP Colombia; Leonor Espinosa, chef; Francia Márquez, the country’s first Black vice president; and Liliana Restrepo, cofounder of chicken restaurant chain Frisby.
CYPRUS
Nikos Christodoulides, president of Cyprus, details his plans as he takes office. His government’s main priorities include boosting tourism and speeding the digitization of the economy, tax reform and a strong focus on environmental sustainability.
CZECH REPUBLIC
Forbes Czech remembers Soňa Červená, an internationally acclaimed opera singer who died in May at 97. The soloist had performed around the world and fronted the 2017 magazine issue featuring the country’s most influential women.
ECUADOR
FRANCE
Among the newest honorees in venture capital, Forbes France’s 30 Under 30 list recognizes Alice Groth as part of the founding team of Sistafund, a Paris-based firm planning to invest more than $110 million into female-led and gender-balanced teams.
GEORGIA
The executives of TBC Leasing see big growth potential in lending, which currently accounts for just 1% of Georgian GDP. The Tbilisi-based team serves 4,000 clients and manages a portfolio worth $158 million.
GERMANY
Quantum Systems has supplied Ukraine’s military with some 100 unarmed drones capable of scouting enemy positions and artillery targets. Cofounded by Florian Seibel and backed by German-born billionaire Peter Thiel, the Munich-based manufacturer prices each drone at about $198,000.
GREECE
Forbes Greece ranks the best ESG performers of the country’s 100 largest companies. Titan Cement, among 18 earning top marks, recorded $2.4 billion in sales last year while reducing carbon emissions at its plants, including four in Greece.
HONDURAS
To boost the economy and reduce logistical issues, Central American infrastructure needs a makeover that will cost $8.3 billion by some estimates. In 2022, the Central American Bank for Economic Integration, a multilateral development bank headquartered in Honduras’ capital, approved $4 billion in grants for the region’s rehabilitation and expansion costs.
HUNGARY
Former billionaire Michael O’Leary, longtime CEO of Ireland-based budget airline Ryanair, decries the Hungarian government’s intentions to purchase Budapest Airport for $4.8 billion: “What for? To make it unprofitable? Governments are generally very bad owners of airports and airlines.”
INDIA
Even with Android dominating India’s market share, Apple is expanding its operations in the country, having opened its first Indian retail store in April in Mumbai. Apple is also boosting local manufacturing, taking advantage of lower production costs and rising demand.
ISRAEL
Eilon Elhadad (left), recently 31, and Eylam Milner, 29, front Forbes Israel’s 30 Under 30 issue. Their Tel Aviv–based startup, Argon Security, protects clients’ custom software against cyberthreats. It sold to Aqua Security for an estimated $80 million in late 2021.
ITALY
Altus Lifestyle, a real estate firm cofounded by Pasquale Cataldi, has restored and sold properties for the ultrawealthy since 2016. From castles to palaces, the Florence-based company relies heavily on local artisans and craftsmanship for its renovations.
JAPAN
Among its “Creator 100” list of innovators in the creative economy, Forbes Japan features Shiori “Siorine” Onuki. The midwife, author and sex educator based in Kanagawa, south of Tokyo, counts more than 200,000 followers across YouTube and Twitter.
KAZAKHSTAN
Government leaders and Yerlan Shulanov, rector of Kozybayev University, hope a partnership with the University of Arizona will stop young people from leaving northern Kazakhstan. The program enables students to obtain dual degrees in disciplines such as information science.
KENYA
Forbes Africa’s ninth annual 30 Under 30 list features 29-year-old Tesh Mbaabu (front right), cofounder and CEO of Nairobi-based MarketForce. The B2B startup raised $40 million in funding last year and is providing fintech and e-commerce tools to 200,000 retail merchants.
MEXICO
Ceramics maker Lamosa plans to invest more than $260 million this year to strengthen its global presence. The family business, based in Monterrey, has grown from revenue of $80 million to a projected $1.8 billion for 2023 since its CEO, Federico Toussaint Elosúa, arrived 30 years ago.
POLAND
“If we survived the pandemic, we will survive everything,” says Daniel Pawełek, as his six restaurants and wine shops weather inflation, near recession and war next door. He leads Forbes Poland’s list of the country’s top 50 restaurateurs two years running.
PORTUGAL
Carlos Mota Santos (right) and cousin Manuel Mota recently took over the family’s multinational construction business, becoming CEO and deputy CEO, respectively. Mota-Engil recorded 2022 turnover of $4 billion, employing some 1,800 Portuguese expatriates on three continents.
ROMANIA
Forbes Romania lists the country’s best areas for business. Bucharest lands the No. 1 spot, with a GDP of $76 billion—$62 billion more than runner-up Timișoara.
SLOVAKIA
Simplicity, an app from Forbes Slovakia 30 Under 30 alumni Juraj Gago (left) and Andrej Krúpa, is used in major cities including New York, Austin and Miami by local governments and institutions to communicate with up to 50 million residents.
SPAIN
Spanish hotel company Grupo Iberostar, led by 84-year-old billionaire Miguel Fluxá Rosselló, signed a 30-year contract late last year with InterContinental Hotels Group, bringing 70 beachfront properties worldwide under IHG’s marketing umbrella and into its customer rewards program.
UAE
Mark Chahwan and Nadine Mezher cofounded UAE-based investment platform and personal finance app Sarwa with Jad Sayegh in 2017. The fintech has raised $25 million in total funding and has over 180,000 users.
UKRAINE
Among the largest private-sector donors to Ukraine’s wartime efforts, billionaire investor Warren Buffett’s son Howard and his foundation gave about $150 million last year and plan to give an additional $300 million in 2023. Projects include funding school meals alongside Olena Zelenska, the country’s first lady.
VIETNAM
While the country’s six billionaires range in age from 53 to 63, Forbes Vietnam features the next generation of industry leaders. Le Hong Minh (center), 45, cofounded VNG, a media, gaming and payments unicorn challenging Facebook Messenger and expected to go public in the U.S.
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