Afghanistan's banks face security issues, corruption problems and political instability. Can they rise to the challenge of rebuilding in such an environment? 

Kuwait is oil-rich, has an enviable geopolitical location and a well-developed financial sector. James King assesses its ambitions to become a serious regional player in the Middle East.

Ireland's banks are on the comeback trail, slashing NPL ratios. However, the continued state ownership in the country's three largest banks clouds the picture. 

Orange Bank’s deputy chief executive officer talks to The Banker about 5G’s potential impact on the banking industry.

Despite the many challenges Afghanistan faces, Khalil Sediq, the governor of Da Afghanistan Bank, is optimistic about the future of the country’s economy. 

While Singapore reigns supreme in The Banker’s Top 100 Asean Banks ranking, banks from a number of south-east Asian countries are showing impressive gains.

The fear of a country ‘getting old before it gets rich’ has been applied to China. But the EBRD’s Sergei Guriev says this is also a challenge for eastern European countries.

Lacking both resources and a youthful population, Japan is targeting African countries' nascent markets and plentiful commodities with generous development finance and infrastructure partnerships. Adrienne Klasa reports.

Kuwait's 2035 Vision is based around the country becoming a regional finance heavyweight. Now its banks are moving apace to make that a reality, with healthy bottom lines and innovative approaches to lending, retail and fintech. James King reports.

Recent moves to improve Kuwait's capital markets have won the country a place on the FTSE Russell emerging markets list and boosted its international profile.