Sponsored Content | China Construction Bank
-
Sponsored by CIBOn paper, Francophone Africa’s economic landscape looks conducive to investment and integration. There is the West African Economic and Monetary Union, which comprises eight countries that share a currency - the West African CFA franc - and a central bank. Another six francophone countries are part of the Central African CFA franc zone. 14 countries with only two currencies and two central banks should be favourable to financial coordination - but the reality is quite different. -
Sponsored by CIBThe history of financing for African agriculture has gone through a series of false dawns. State-led credit in the years after independence gave way to market reforms and microfinance in the 1980s. Warehouse receipts and value chain finance aimed to tempt banks into lending with produce as collateral. But these solutions all fell short of being truly transformative. Now, it is agriculture-related financial technology, or agri-fintech shouldering hopes of revolutionising lending in a sector critical to the continent’s future.
-
Sponsored by Commercial International Bank (CIB)With many obstacles facing women's financial inclusion in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, addressing them is a key priority for the Egyptian government. In an interview, Hussein Abaza, CEO and managing director of CIB discusses how Egypt's financial sector has taken steps to promote gender equality and women's economic empowerment in the country.
-
Sponsored by Commercial International Bank (CIB)Sustainable finance is growing rapidly in the MENA region. With more countries entering the green bond market in recent years and global green bond investment set to double and reach $$1 trillion for the first time in a single year by the end of 2022, tackling the climate crisis is top of everyone’s agenda. CIB CEO and managing director Hussein Abaza discusses the opportunities for the MENA region to advance sustainability practices.
-
Sponsored by Commercial Bank of QatarCommercial Bank of Qatar’s financial results across the year have been strong, capping five years of growth and development under its strategic plan. In an interview, Rehan Khan, CFO of CBQ, discusses some of the highlights from the bank’s performance, how its investment in digitisation is paying off, and what its main financial focus will be for 2022
-
Sponsored by CaixabankHigh-net-worth individuals today demand a wide array of sustainable investment options and increasingly sophisticated digital services. Larger, integrated institutions may be best placed to benefit from these trends.
-
Sponsored by CaixabankLuis Javier Blas Agüeros, chief operating officer at CaixaBank outlines how banks can ensure their future success through innovation, cloud technology and the reinvention of their products and services.
-
Sponsored by DBSTechnological advancement is revolutionising financial services, and in the next few years even more profound change is likely to happen. Blockchain – or distributed ledger technology – is one technological advance in particular that offers immense potential to completely transform areas of transaction banking, if not the entire financial industry, says Lim Soon Chong, group head of global transaction services at DBS.
-
Sponsored by HSBCAustralian banks are ready to return in force to the capital markets for their fundraising activity, with investors in Asia set to play a critical role in the deals.
-
Sponsored by Commercial Bank of QatarDigital transformation has been a core pillar of Commercial Bank of Qatar’s five-year strategic plan, initiated in 2016. After consecutive years of investment in digitising its operations and banking businesses, the bank’s operational efficiency and financial performance has strengthened, highlighting the success of the transformation so far.
-
Sponsored by Commercial International Bank (CIB)Environmental, social and governance considerations have been a strategic focus for CIB for quite a few years, pushing the Egyptian lender to the forefront of the regional banking industry's embrace of ESG issues. In an interview, CIB CEO Hussein Abaza, explains the importance of these issues to the bank and how this is reflected across its operations and businesses.
-
Sponsored by Banking CircleAnders la Cour, chief executive officer of Banking Circle Group, talks about the payments bank’s latest research, and how chief information and chief technology officers can future-proof their businesses.
