Thailand’s central bank governor Pridiyathorn Devakula is The Banker’s central bank governor of the year in Asia for 2006. Here he talks to Brian Caplen about the challenges facing his country.

Thailand is reinforcing its recovery from crisis with an overhaul of its capital markets and a programme of liberalisation. Brian Caplen explains.

The Banker celebrated its 80th anniversary (1926-2006) at the Drapers Hall in London with a cake-cutting ceremony attended by (from left) Brian Caplen, editor; Stephen Timewell, editor-in-chief; and Michael Kirkwood, master of the Guild of International Bankers and managing director UK, Citigroup. The 80th anniversary celebrations included a keynote speech by Sir Peter Middleton, president of the British Bankers Association and senior warden of the Guild of International Bankers, which examined key events in UK financial history, and a seminar that included both an economics panel and a banking panel.

Flat tax is unpalatable to governments of established economies but its adoption by emerging countries could spark a rethink.

Henrique de Campos Meirelles, governor of Brazil’s central bank, has made the rebuilding of foreign currency reserves a priority. Interview by Brian Caplen.
Q Brazil is more stable than it has ever been before. How has this been achieved?
A Brazil is engaged in a very serious economic stabilisation programme involving an inflation-targeting monetary regime and a free-floating exchange rate.

Brazil’s banks are grappling with the new challenges of operating in a stable climate. Brian Caplen reports.

Michael Klein, CEO of global banking at Citigroup, tells Brian Caplen that gaining corporate client trust requires the bank’s senior advisers to position themselves as peers of the CEOs and boards with which they deal.

Banks’ secrecy over how they achieve their results is far from ideal for investors. Brian Caplen asks whether it is time these institutions stopped being so protective over their methods.

Vneshtorgbank is using its acquisition of Guta Bank to build up its retail services, planning more branches and aiming for a leading role in the mortgage market. By Brian Caplen.
Russian state-owned Vneshtorgbank is pushing ahead on the retail front, aiming to claim an 8%-10% share of the market by 2010. During that period, total assets are expected to rise from $15bn to $35bn, including a forecast rise in mortgages from $150m to $2bn and in consumer lending from $300m to $3bn.

When Santander bought Abbey, not everyone agreed it was a good idea. But its strategy for turning around the ailing bank has proved the doubters wrong, as Brian Caplen reports.