MINTs: Overview, Requirements, and History

What Are the MINTs (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey)?

MINT (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey) is a group of countries with the potential for rapid economic growth. These countries were selected based on specific demographic, geographic, and economic factors.

Key Takeaways

• MINT is an acronym for Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey.
• Fidelity selected these countries in 2011 based on their potential for future growth.
• The MINTs were chosen as successors to the BRICS countries—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa.
• MINTs may suffer from corruption, political instability, and economic crises.

Understanding MINTs (Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, Turkey)

MINT was coined by Fidelity Investments to refer to four countries: Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey. Fidelity selected these countries in 2011 due to their potential for strong growth and high returns for investors. The grouping was based on factors such as large populations, favorable demographics, and emerging economies.

Compared to the BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa), MINTs have smaller economies. However, investors have turned their attention to MINTs as the next countries with a rapidly growing economy.

Despite their prospects for ranking among the top 10 global economies by 2050, investing in MINTs doesn’t guarantee profits. MINTs still suffer from corruption, political instability, and economic challenges, but they have implemented changes to prevent the recurrence of past problems.

Requirements for MINTs

MINTs share common qualities such as a young population, business-friendly legal systems, and pro-growth government policies. They are also geographically well-positioned for trade and not overly dependent on a single industry.

Fidelity included Nigeria due to its natural resources, large population, well-regulated banks, and opportunities to expand retail credit. Indonesia was chosen for its large workforce. MINTs are expected to become major exporters of raw and finished goods.

What Do MINT Countries Have In Common?

MINT countries are geographically located for trade, have diversified income sources, and the potential to become major exporters of goods.

What’s the Difference Between the BRICs and the MINTs?

BRIC, now BRICS, refers to the economies of Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. The MINTs—Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey—are smaller economies and are considered successors to the BRICS.

What Are the CIVETS?

The CIVETS are another group of emerging economies: Colombia, Indonesia, Vietnam, Egypt, Turkey, and South Africa. The term was coined in 2009.

The Bottom Line

MINT refers to Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria, and Turkey as countries with the potential for fast economic growth. The term was coined by Fidelity in 2011 to highlight countries expected to provide high returns for investors over the years.