Rupiah Banda, the new president of Zambia talks about his vision for transforming the southern African state's economy in the light of a severe economic downturn. Writer Charlie Corbett in Cape Town
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A different picture
July 7, 2009
Jacob Zuma, South Africa's new president
Some of the world's most powerful leaders and investors met in Cape Town last month for the World Economic Forum. They discussed the impact of the global downturn on Africa and how the continent could use it as an opportunity to build a platform for growth. Writer Charlie Corbett in Cape Town
Leaning against the wind
July 7, 2009South Africa's banking sector has so far proved resilient to the country's worst recession in 17 years, but faced with soaring unemployment and high levels of consumer debt, the biggest challenges lie ahead. Writer Charlie Corbett in Johannesburg and Cape Town
Tonio Fenech
July 7, 2009
Tonio Fenech, minister of finance, economy and investment of Malta
Malta has benefited from adopting the euro and its economy is doing better than many others in the eurozone, says its minister of finance, economy and investment, Tonio Fenech. Writer Michael Imeson
The Matador's special weapon
July 7, 2009Close adherence to international regulatory standards has protected Madrid's financial system from embroilment in the subprime market that has so badly harmed rival centres New York, London and Paris. Yet Spain's flailing economy must be tended to if Madrid is to rise as a dynamic alternative. Writer Rodrigo Amaral
What went right for South Korea
July 7, 2009In a speech at the IIF Spring Membership Meeting in Beijing in June, South Korean prime minister Han Seung-soo explained how the lessons learned from the Asian crisis of 1997 has helped his country come through the current recession in better shape than most.
Development demand
June 4, 2009
Press conference on co-operation between the Latin American development banks (l to r): Enrique Garcia, CAF president; Luis Alberto Moreno, IDB president; Jyrki Koskelo, IFC vice-president for Europe, central Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean and global financial markets; and Pamela Cox, World Bank vice-president for Latin America and the Caribbean
The slump in capital markets activity and a decline in cash flow has pushed Latin America's multilateral development banks to prominence as the biggest and most robust lenders in some of the region's principal credit markets. Writer Jane Monahan in Washington, DC
Hope and wait
June 4, 2009Kuwaiti banks are generally performing well, but their long-term prospects are largely dependent on the May elections bringing political stability to the country. Writer Stephen Timewell
Political wrangling hampers Kuwait
June 4, 2009Tension between Kuwait's ruling government and elected parliament are hampering policy formation and intensifying uncertainty as the economy gets back on its feet. Will the new parliament elected last month change the situation? Writer Stephen Timewell
Opportunities beyond the downturn: Looking East
May 5, 2009The banking sector across emerging Europe is varied, and although even its most dynamic economies are being impeded by the slowdown, forecasts suggest they have the growth potential to bounce back, reports UniCredit Group's global economics, fixed income and foreign exchange research team.