Emerging Europe: Special focus

Emerging Europe

Roman Avdeev: Moscow's most unlikely billionaire

Philosopher, philanthropist and father of 23 – Roman Avdeev is a far cry from the stereotype of Russian oligarch. Yet his ownership of Credit Bank of Moscow, one of the country’s fastest-growing lenders, along with canny deal-making in sectors from retail to pharmaceuticals, is fast propelling him up the rich list. And his status as one of Russia’s most independent billionaires gives him a unique insight into the country’s current pariah status.

Regional debt capital markets

Disintermediation begins to take root

With a seemingly bottomless pool of cheap bank funding readily available, companies in emerging Europe have tended to shun the international bond markets. A recent spurt of debut deals, however, has prompted speculation that the long-awaited shift might finally be under way

Kazakhstan

Nazarbayev's hard graph

Kazakhstan is going all out to achieve its goal of becoming a middle-income state by 2030, forming unique partnerships with development banks. It could be a turning point not just for the central Asia nation, but for the multilaterals too

Turkish banking

Turkey struggles in search for sustainability

There’s a new buzzword from Ankara to Istanbul in Turkey’s financial markets: sustainability. Not of the environmental kind, but borne of a desire to keep the positive developments of the country’s economy, and its banks, flowing

The effect of sanctions

Sanctions over the conflict in Ukraine have closed off western capital markets to many Russian companies, giving Asia an opportunity to take a greater role. But an easy ride in the east is not guaranteed