China and Kazakhstan have signed many agreements for the Belt and Road Initiative but tangible projects have yet to materialise. Chinese investors blame red tape, while Kazakhs express concern over land reforms and the environment, as Nikkei Asian Review contributing writer Naubet Bisenov reports.
At $1000bn, China’s Belt and Road Initiative is arguably the largest overseas investment drive ever launched by a single country. How are BRI projects across Asia and Europe progressing after a big spurt in activity following the maiden announcement of 2013? By Stefania Palma.
Japan and India are joining forces to boost their commercial presence in Africa and counter China’s dominance. Will they be able to compete with the continent's top trading partner – and how is Beijing reacting to the new competition? Stefania Palma reports.
Nepal is grappling with interest rate and liquidity volatility as well as a relatively large banking sector that has 28 commercial banks. Chiranjibi Nepal, governor of Nepal Rastra Bank, tells Stefania Palma how the central bank is addressing these issues.
As the Russian economy recovers, the new equilibrium brings fresh challenges to the financial sector. Stefanie Linhardt finds out how the management at many of the country's leading banks are adapting to this environment at the International Financial Congress in St Petersburg.
Pakistan’s GDP growth is up, its budget deficit is down and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor promises to bring with it major investment. But observers are warning against government complacency as its privatisation programme stalls and power debts remain unpaid.
Chinese regulators have tightened their grip on the banking sector in an effort to control financial risk, the country’s ballooning shadow banking sector and excessive debt load. Which banks stand a better chance of meeting these tougher requirements? Stefania Palma reports.