While Portugal has moved out of recession – just – its recovery seems tentative at best. Its economy minister, however, is optimistic about the country's future, and tells Silvia Pavoni that its strong exports to countries outside of the eurozone in particular point to better times ahead.

The days of double-digit growth in China may be over, but the rest of the world has little reason to fear, says Jim O’Neill.

Supplying Asia's growing middle classes and industries with energy is a headache for governments throughout the region. However, given that 55% of the world's new residential construction from now until 2025 will occur in China and south Asia, designing smart, energy-efficient buildings will go a long way to solving this problem.

Working with the maxim that there is big profit potential in big data, the global head of IT architecture at HSBC securities services and his team have spent the past 18 months experimenting with new technologies and now, he tells Dan Barnes, the bank is ready to launch a new suite of client-driven technology solutions.

The rise of pan-European banking groups makes supervision at a European level appropriate. But crises still start locally, and local supervisors must retain adequate powers to act independently.

Africa’s banking industry has gone through huge changes during Jacko Maree’s career. The former chief executive of Standard Bank believes the future for banks on the continent looks promising, but says they will have to adapt to regulatory changes and tap new types of clients. Interview by Paul Wallace.

An ageing population and shrinking labour pool have put a strain on Singapore's economy, leading to calls for it to be restructured to raise productivity and bring about price stability. This will come through more productivity-led growth and a stronger focus on macroprudential policies.

The recently appointed National Bank of Kazakhstan governor, Kairat Kelimbetov, tells Philip Alexander that he is focused on stepping up the quality of corporate governance in the country's banking sector and financial markets.