The concepts on which a European banking union is based are flawed. Basing this union on the principles upon which the German savings banks model is founded – a model that has remained stable in recent years of crisis – would be a more sensible option.

For the past few years Greece, has been fighting its fiscal deficit with a harsh austerity programme. However, the limited success of this approach means that if the country is to make a sustainable recovery from its current economic crisis, its policies must focus more on instigating growth.

Japan boasts a more mature and stable economy than its fast-growing Asian neighbours, and the country's vice-minister of finance for international affairs hopes that the country's role as a leading practitioner of financial diplomacy in the region is backed up by its banks.

With the same proactive approach that allowed the country to steer clear of the worst of the global economic crisis, Qatar's central bank is preparing the country's banks sector for regulatory pressures ahead, while ensuring they can meet the large-scale funding requirements that come with the country hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Africa’s central banks have amassed huge foreign reserves over the last decade, but they typically invest the majority of them in low-yielding developed world assets. They should look to put them to work in Africa instead.

A combination of responsible fiscal control, economic diversification and social inclusion make for a resilient economy. While Colombia has made significant strides towards achieving such equilibrium there is still headway to be made, with issues such as the country's stubbornly high unemployment rate, social inequality, and the threat from narcotraffickers still to be tackled.

Thanks to shale drilling, the US is brimming with cheap gas and has turned itself into one of the world’s fastest-growing oil producers. Most analysts now expect it to be all but energy independent within 15 years, shattering mainstream assumptions from as recently as five years ago. The implications for global energy markets and geopolitics are profound. 

Within the IMF, some members are more equal than others. Only when fast-growing development economies such as the BRICS nations are fairly represented in its decision-making processes can it be described as a truly multilateral organisation.

Thailand can no longer rely upon its exports or low labour costs to give it an edge in international markets. Instead, it must rebalance its economy to be more demand driven, and to have a greater domestic focus, something the Bank of Thailand is keen to help the country achieve.

Much has improved in Côte d'Ivoire since president Alassane Ouattara came to power last year, ending months of post-election turmoil. Although some parts of the country remain volatile, most of it is peaceful. And the economy is expanding quickly. The president even thinks its will soon attain double-digit growth.