Asia's bond markets are the largest outside the US and Europe. National markets vary enormously but most are growing rapidly, driven by huge pools of onshore liquidity and by the desire of Asian companies to plan and fund long-term. And local banks are taking an ever bigger slice of the business.

Baktygul Jeenbaeva was plucked from the private sector to become acting chairman of the Kyrgyz central bank in July 2010, following the overthrow of the country’s government in April. She explains how she responded to the crisis, and sets out the fate of the country’s largest bank.

India's HDFC Bank recently upgraded its ATM network. The bank's chief information officer, Anil Jaggia explains how it has increased transaction speeds, boosted sales and implemented SMS-based anti-fraud measures.

The governor of Thailand's central bank has had an eventful first few months in the role, including raising the Bank of Thailand's benchmark rates by 25 basis points and having to closely monitor the baht.

Amid riots and concerns over more upheaval, Thailand's banks enjoyed a prosperous 2010. While the country's dependence on exports leaves it at the mercy of US and Chinese economic policies, major players in Thailand seem well prepared to cope with any slowdown.

A new agreement between Taiwan and China has opened up the financial markets to each country's banks. With growth slowing in Taiwan, its banks are looking to expand by targeting the many Taiwanese businesses that have become established in China.

Taiwan's economy enjoyed an apparent boom in 2010, enjoying GDP growth of about 10%, but the jury is still out on whether that represents sustainable recovery.

Chandran Nair, founder of the Global Institute for Tomorrow, argues that Asia should instead be brave in imposing limits on the exploitation of resources.