Chalongphob Sussangkarn took over as Thailand’s minister of finance in March, following the resignation of his predecessor Pridiyathorn Devakula. A former president of independent economic think-tank the Thailand Development Research Institute, he is a key player in the interim government that was installed last year after a military coup. He spoke to Simon Montlake in Bangkok.

Our rankings reveal no evidence of a bursting Asian bubble as China, and India to a lesser extent, power onwards.

After pursuing a strategy of investing in less-developed Asian markets, ANZ is set to enjoy the fruits of its labours as these markets grow. Virginia Marsh reports.

Wendy Atkins reports on how payment card providers are preparing for the 2008 Beijing Olympics by ensuring that visitors can pay easily for all their needs.

China, the fastest developing country in the world, with a 10.7% gross domestic product (GDP) growth in 2006, is a very indicative example.

Bankers are looking at the BRIC countries to expand their business and to boost public private partnership portfolios. Which are the most appealing locations? Silvia Pavoni, John Rumsey, Ben Aris and Kala Rao report on the state of PPP development in Brazil, Russia, China and India .

One emerging market bank on the move is Bank TuranAlem, which, as one of the largest private banks in the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), is expanding overseas.

Not every bank desires to be a global powerhouse but there are some markets that are TBTI (too big to ignore). Chief executives need to have a China strategy and an India strategy for sure but the TBTI list is growing faster than CEOs can keep up with.

By negotiating directly with Africa, China is changing the rules on commodity trading, writes Martyn Davies.

India presents similar political fragmentation. Local authorities are in charge of developing much of the local infrastructure and need external funds; and the central government has the buying power but not the implementation capability.