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What with the more conventional investments under-performing over the last couple of years, it may be time to start thinking about putting some of your money towards a few ‘less orthodox’ ventures. This, presumably, is what a group of Somali ‘entrepreneurs’ were thinking when they set up the World’s first pirate stock exchange.
Reuters gets the scoop:
Heavily armed pirates from the lawless Horn of Africa nation have terrorized shipping lanes in the Indian Ocean and strategic Gulf of Aden, which links Europe to Asia through the Red Sea.
The gangs have made tens of millions of dollars from ransoms and a deployment by foreign navies in the area has only appeared to drive the attackers to hunt further from shore.
It is a lucrative business that has drawn financiers from the Somali diaspora and other nations — and now the gangs in Haradheere have set up an exchange to manage their investments.
“But how can I invest in people who lie, cheat, and steal for a living” you might be asking yourself. Well, if the past 24 months has taught us anything, it’s that this is pretty much how most of the companies on the more ‘legitimate’ markets operate anyway. And hey, at least these guys are honest about their dishonesty!
Indeed, this is such a refreshing approach that we here at Master Your Card believe that 2010 will be the year of the pirate-heavy portfolio.
Just listen to this glowing testimonial from a happy customer:
Piracy investor Sahra Ibrahim, a 22-year-old divorcee, was lined up with others waiting for her cut of a ransom pay-out after one of the gangs freed a Spanish tuna fishing vessel.
“I am waiting for my share after I contributed a rocket-propelled grenade for the operation,” she said, adding that she got the weapon from her ex-husband in alimony.
“I am really happy and lucky. I have made ,000 in only 38 days since I joined the ‘company’.”
When was the last time you heard such a glowing review about a company listed on the NYSE? And with an initial investment of only one rocket propelled grenade, how can you possibly go wrong?