Africa’s poor infrastructure has caused it to lag behind other emerging markets over the past few decades. And while better infrastructure is crucial for the continent’s economic development, it can also boost democracy and good governance.

As China moves from producer to consumer, as more bilateral trade agreements are signed, and as more environmental disasters show just how vulnerable a country's manufacturing base can be, a new era is emerging that is changing the entire philosophy of the global supply chain.

Starvation and the effects of a poor diet continue to blight a large percentage of the world's population, despite the fact that enough food is produced to eradicate hunger. It is now time for the private sector to play a bigger role in tackling this problem, which would bring with it economic and humanitarian rewards.

After a turbulent year across the Middle East and north Africa, Bahrain's finance minister describes how his country is finding stability again as its banks and businesses continue to innovate.

There is a feeling in some circles that as the East rises, the West must simultaneously decline. But why? Rising prosperity in Asia means more opportunities for businesses and banks in North America and Europe, and the only ones to suffer will be those who continue to think along 'East versus West' lines.

Banks are swapping assets in a bid to transform illiquid assets into liquid, highly rated assets that are eligible for repo. But do regulators fully understand the implications and fears that banks are repeating the mistakes of past, and just who has all the repos?

With Colombia's GDP expected to rise by 5% for both 2011 and this year, and a growing sense of optimism across the country, president Juan Manuel Santos explains why he is buoyant over the future of a country once dogged by corruption and drug trafficking.

Italy's recent debt problems can be traced back to years of mismanagement by the country's self-serving politicians on both sides of the political fence. Mario Monti's 'technocrat' government, however, offers hope of a short-term financial revival and a long-term rethink of the manner in which Italian politics is conducted.

After the Arab Spring uprisings, Tunisia's new democratically elected government has the task of attracting investment to the country and creating jobs for its youthful population. Its Jasmine Plan, which heavily involves the private sector, is intended to do just this.