Zimbabwe’s economy is on the verge of recession, with low consumer demand and a liquidity crunch putting its businesses under plenty of strain. Against this backdrop, finance minister Patrick Chinamasa tells Paul Wallace how he has started to rebuild its ties with multilateral lenders in a bid to access new credit. 

PTA Bank, one of Africa’s main development banks, was in crisis at the turn of the millennium. But it has since turned itself around and boosted its capital base, meaning that its chief executive is confident in saying that it is finally able to fulfil its role of fostering regional trade in eastern and southern Africa.

While The Banker's Top 1000 World Banks ranking published every July gives an insightful and unique snapshot of the state of the global banking market, our ranking of those banks featuring just below the ranking gives an excellent indication of the way in which the market is heading, and which countries and regions are on the rise.

Finance minister Tendai Biti has helped turn around Zimbabwe’s economy since taking office in 2009. But he faces a tough task trying to lure foreign investors to a country whose politics are still so messy.