Asia

Slow progress

Open door: the merger between ICICI and the Bank of Rajasthan is the first consolidation in India since 2008Open door: the merger between ICICI and the Bank of Rajasthan is the first consolidation in India since 2008

Indian banks are demonstrating a return to good health and new players are set to enter the market. But overbanked urban areas and a seeming reluctance to enter a period of consolidation continues to hamper the industry's development. Writer Rekha Menon

Afghanistan

Omar Zakhilwal

Omar Zakhilwal, Afghanistan's minister of financeOmar Zakhilwal, Afghanistan's minister of finance

Afghanistan's minister of finance tells The Banker how the government is addressing its significant security and infrastructure challenges and calls for Afghanistan to be given more control over how international aid money is spent within its territory. Writer Michelle Price

Australia

Clearing and settlement remains a barrier to Australian competition

The much-anticipated competition in Australia's cash equities markets is finally taking hold, but hopeful new entrants may yet be stymied by the challenges presented by the clearing and settlement infrastructure. Writer Elton Cane

Bangladesh

Pressure grows for a more robust microcredit sector

Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Mohammed Yunus talks to Kala Rao about the growing role of microfinance in the global economy, the challenges the sector faces moving from the informal to formal status, the need for regulation and the role that governments can play.

Cambodia

Bankers at odds over Cambodia's financial crisis

Canadia Tower: a symbol of Cambodia's growth period prior to the international financial crisisCanadia Tower: a symbol of Cambodia's growth period prior to the international financial crisis

Cambodia's government-engineered slowdown after five years of unsustainable economic growth could not have been implemented at a worse time, coming as it did just before the global financial crisis. Consequently the crisis has hit Cambodia's banks hard, though just how hard is a matter of some debate between the IMF and the country's senior bankers. Writer Brian Caplen

China

Is China heading for a home-grown crisis?

Rural support: in an effort to create social stability, China has allocated more financial support to farmersRural support: in an effort to create social stability, China has allocated more financial support to farmers

As the global crisis weakened other major economies, China's huge lending spree sent its growth soaring, but it must hope that in having made credit so loosely available it has not inadvertently planted the seeds of a future home-grown crisis. Writer Brian Caplen

Hong Kong

John Fildes, managing director of Instinet, Pacific

John Fildes, managing director of Instinet, Pacific

Asian exchanges resist shake-up

The global financial crisis has highlighted weaknesses in equity market structures. The markets must reform if they are to attract long-term institutional liquidity. Writer Michelle Price

India

Slow progress

Open door: the merger between ICICI and the Bank of Rajasthan is the first consolidation in India since 2008Open door: the merger between ICICI and the Bank of Rajasthan is the first consolidation in India since 2008

Indian banks are demonstrating a return to good health and new players are set to enter the market. But overbanked urban areas and a seeming reluctance to enter a period of consolidation continues to hamper the industry's development. Writer Rekha Menon

Indonesia

Reform is a work in progress

Stable structure: Jakarta's central business district has experienced growth throughout the global economic slumpStable structure: Jakarta's central business district has experienced growth throughout the global economic slump

Policy reforms in Indonesia's banking sector have transformed shareholding structures and foreign investors have scooped up local banks. But further change is needed to enable the country to cope with an anticipated economic explosion, say local bankers. Writer Michelle Price

Japan

Richard C Koo

Richard C Koo, Nomura Research Institute's chief economistRichard C Koo, Nomura Research Institute's chief economist

For the first time in its modern economic history, Japan is being hotly pursued by China, which recently became the world's second-largest economy. Nomura Research Institute's chief economist reveals what Japan needs to learn if it is to maintain its lofty position in the new global economic order.

Laos

Better prospects in the pipeline

After years of underdevelopment, Laos is reforming its laws and encouraging greater banking activity in anticipation of gaining WTO membership. Writer Nick Freeman in Vientiane.

Malaysia

Hidden strengths propel growth

Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, central governor

Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz, central governor

Despite Malaysia's reticence in establishing itself as a globally recognised financial centre, it is now moving forward fast. Bank Negara Malaysia governor Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz discusses the role of Islamic finance products in the country's push. Writer Silvia Pavoni

Mongolia

The Russians are coming

Chingis Gombosuren in Ulaanbaatar reports on Russian oligarchs’ sudden appetite for Mongolian banks.

Nepal

Surendra Pandey

Surendra Pandey, Nepal's finance ministerSurendra Pandey, Nepal's finance minister

Despite ongoing political unrest, Nepal's finance minister says his focus is fixed firmly on economic development and rebuilding the country's infrastructure. Writer Michelle Price

New Zealand

Former prime minister Jim Bolger on the promise of Kiwibank

Jim Bolger, chairman of New Zealand Post Group's KiwibankJim Bolger, chairman of New Zealand Post Group's Kiwibank

The former prime minister of New Zealand and now chairman of New Zealand Post Group's fast-growing Kiwibank believes that the company offers a template for post groups around the world attempting to establish a banking brand. Writer Michelle Price

North Korea

Centrepiece: Steve Timewell flanked by his two minders

Small steps towards the real world

On a visit to Pyongyang, Stephen Timewell examines the state of North Korea’s fledgling banking system, which is slowly developing in order to increase foreign trade.

Pakistan

Shamsad Akhtar, State Bank of Pakistan

Bold governor strives for new frontiers

Shamsad Akhtar, governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, has an ambitious vision for the bank to have a greater say in economic policy, she tells Karina Robinson.

Philippines

Finance minister Margarito Teves on reducing debt and raising revenues

Margarito Teves, secretary of the Department of Finance of the PhilippinesMargarito Teves, secretary of the Department of Finance of the Philippines

The Philippines' finance minister says that the archipelago's economy has remained relatively resilient during the downturn compared with its export-dependent neighbours. But the budget deficit remains an ongoing problem. Writer Michelle Price

Singapore

The Singapore Stock Exchange's Terry Gibson on the importance of infrastructure

Terry Gibson, senior vice-president and head of product management at SGXTerry Gibson, senior vice-president and head of product management at SGX

The senior vice-president and head of product management at the Singapore Exchange discusses its major post-trade infrastructure project. Writer Michelle Price

South Korea

On the rebound

Back on form: South Korea's economy was on the brink of disaster in January 2009, but is now one of the fastest recovering markets in AsiaBack on form: South Korea's economy was on the brink of disaster in January 2009, but is now one of the fastest recovering markets in Asia

Despite falling into a major economic trough in the first quarter of 2009, the majority of South Korea's banks are poised for a stable recovery in 2010. But the unwinding of stimulus packages worldwide and the risk of a possible double-dip global recession in the West continue to threaten the Korean banking sector. Writer Mee Hyoe Koo

Sri Lanka

Ajith Nivard Cabraal

Central bank governor of Sri Lanka, Ajith Nivard CabraalCentral bank governor of Sri Lanka, Ajith Nivard Cabraal

Having emerged from years of civil war, Sri Lanka is in a position to address its long-term economic development and infrastructural regeneration. The country's central bank governor discusses his monetary policy for 2010 and explains how it will work alongside the government's reform plans. Writer Michelle Price

Taiwan

Waiting for China

Huang Chih-Peng (right), the director-general of Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade, shakes hands with Tang Wei, director-general of China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs department during talks over the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement in Taoyuan in MarchHuang Chih-Peng (right), the director-general of Taiwan's Bureau of Foreign Trade, shakes hands with Tang Wei, director-general of China's Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau Affairs department during talks over the Economic Co-operation Framework Agreement in Taoyuan in March

The imminent signing of an economic co-operation framework agreement between Taiwan and China promises to bring major structural shift in Taiwan's highly state-dominated banking industry. Writer Gavin Bowring

Thailand

Turbulent times no barrier to change

Bidding up: last month Thanachart Bank, 49% owned by Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia, saw off HSBC to win control of Siam City Bank in a government auctionBidding up: last month Thanachart Bank, 49% owned by Canada's Bank of Nova Scotia, saw off HSBC to win control of Siam City Bank in a government auction

On going financial reform will not be held back by Thailand's political troubles, say Thailand's bankers. Neither portfolio nor direct investment inflows have been impacted, and the country's government is pressing on with two masterplans for the financial sector and capital markets. Writer Brian Caplen

Vietnam

Is Vietnam cultivating another asset bubble?

Index on the up: Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, VietnamIndex on the up: Ho Chi Minh Stock Exchange, Vietnam

Bank lending is being used as a direct and often blunt lever by which to manage Vietnam's economy, proving a critical first defence against the global economic slump. But the medium-term consequences of over-interference may be another bubble, warn analysts. Writer Michelle Price


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