Sponsored Content | China Construction Bank
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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.
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Sponsored by CIBAfter coming worryingly close to a full-blown economic crisis, this year saw Egypt turn things around. The authorities are promising new policies, privatisation, a raft of reforms and a thriving private sector. Investors – domestic and international – have been placated. But it will take much more for them to have faith that this time things will truly be different.
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Sponsored by CIBThe most optimistic vision for Egypt’s economic future rests on a private sector that is allowed to grow and thrive. A combination of red tape, restrictions and state-owned monopoly has long prevented private firms from meeting their true potential. Egyptian authorities say they mean business this time – but there are some tough barriers that need breaking.
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Sponsored by SwiftThe EU Instant Payments Regulation, which came into effect in April 2024, aims to make instant payments the standard across the Single Euro Payments Area, while introducing enhanced security measures for faster transactions. Marianne Demarchi, Chief Executive EMEA at Swift, argues that interoperability between fragmented European Verification of Payee (VoP) schemes is a fundamental first step toward the success of pre-validating payments on a global scale.
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Sponsored by HSBCCorporate treasury is rapidly evolving so organisations can navigate and adapt to a rapidly changing environment. For treasurers across industries, understanding the essential building blocks for successful treasury transformation is crucial.
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Sponsored by HSBCThe surge in wealth creation in Asia has led to the rise of a powerful player in the industry: the family office.
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Sponsored by CIBAfrica’s economic growth has slowed markedly over the last 10 years. The solutions are many, but ultimately African countries need to move further up the value chain and diversify into new products. This means more trade - much more.
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Sponsored by CIBIt is often said that African countries trade more with countries outside the continent than amongst themselves, in part as a legacy of the old colonial development model. Bolstering intra-Africa trade is not only welcome but also a key answer to sluggish economic growth. Progress through tools such as the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) is happening, but not as fast as it could.
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Sponsored by Golomt BankA focus on supporting small and medium enterprises, a penchant for innovation, international standards and an emphasis on sustainable financing have put Golomt Bank in prime position in Mongolia’s banking industry.
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Sponsored by J.P. MorganDespite the challenging macro environment, corporate confidence is rising as UK and European economies emerge from recession, emboldening companies’ drive for expansion
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Sponsored by HSBCMultiple forces are driving a profound transformation in global trade and supply chains. As a bank operating at the core of these global networks, HSBC highlights five of the forces that are having some of the greatest impact on the future of trade
