When Chinese investors sought to secure a supply of niobium metal, UBS had the unique challenge of coordinating five state-owned enterprises to a punishing timetable, all the while taking on board the differing needs of each enterprise. 

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s recent appointment as Nigeria’s economic tsar has led to high expectations that the country can finally start to fulfil its vast potential. But, despite her intellect, boundless energy and standing among investors, the task is a daunting one. 

Finance minister Tendai Biti has helped turn around Zimbabwe’s economy since taking office in 2009. But he faces a tough task trying to lure foreign investors to a country whose politics are still so messy. 

It has taken nearly two years, but Indonesian mobile telecoms operator Axis has secured $1.2bn of sharia-compliant financing. For many of the players involved, it was their first dealing with sharia principles, presenting HSBC and its Saudi affiliate with a complex task.

Armenia’s finance minister and former central bank vice-president Vache Gabrielyan is focusing on maintaining the country on its path of recovery, controlling inflation and starting a reform of its pension system.

South Korea has the second highest debt-to-disposable income ratio in the world, but Choongsoo Kim, governor of the Bank of Korea, insists that the country’s financial system is not at risk, and suggests that balancing the focus between export and domestic demand will lead to sustainable economic growth.