The finance minister of Chile discusses the country's "very exceptional" fiscal situation, and tells how it is recovering from an earthquake that shattered the country earlier this year. Writers Jane Monahan and Brian Caplen

On the sidelines of the IMF annual meetings, the permanent secretary in Saint Lucia's Finance Ministry, Isaac Anthony, discusses remedies to boost tourism to the Caribbean nation and plans to develop it as an offshore financial centre. Writers Jane Monahan and Brian Caplen

The Honduran finance minister tells The Banker that the country is moving towards a period of greater stability following an agreement with the IMF, the first with an international financial institution since elections in the country re-established civilian rule. Interview Brian Caplen and Jane Monahan

Jordan's economy was shielded from the worst of the global financial crisis. However, despite this stability, its deposit-rich banks are struggling to ignite the country's lending markets.

Algeria's mid-year budget has further restricted the activities of foreign banks and businesses in the country, while shoring up regulations for domestic banks. Writer Richard Nield

Barclays is not in Africa to make a quick buck, but to develop a long-standing relationship with a continent it has not lavished with quite the attention that it deserves, according to Barclays Retail CEO Antony Jenkins.

From Hong Kong to London, established global financial centres are looking to reinvent themselves as Islamic finance hubs and capture a slice of a fast-growing and still largely untapped market.

A banker dealing with a phone enquiry at National Commercial Bank of Saudi Arabia, which tops The Banker's Arab banks ranking this year.