The recent collapse in the price of oil accentuated the critical need for Angola to diversify its oil-dependent economy. Despite the fall in growth, however, the country has weathered the storm and must now focus on public sector reform. Writer Charlie Corbett
Funding Africa's agrarian revolution
September 2, 2009Five decades of neglect left Africa's agricultural sector in a parlous state, but last year's food crisis galvanised global opinion that something must be done - and soon - to transform the continent's vast potential into reality. Financing small farmers is the first step. Writer Charlie Corbett
Ian Johnston
September 2, 2009Ian Johnston, chief executive of Swift in the Asia-Pacific region
The chief executive of Swift in the Asia-Pacific region talks to The Banker about the impact of the financial crisis on business, the co-operative's strategy in Asia and how the company is changing to meet the needs of an ever-more diverse client base. Writer Charlie Corbett
Not a drop to drink
September 2, 2009After years of easy finance, companies across the world have had to face up to some harsh realities since the onset of the financial crisis. As credit dried out at the end of last year, they were forced to diversify their financing options and squeeze liquidity from within. Writer Charlie Corbett
FX proves critical in a crisis
August 4, 2009Rob Mandeno, global head of FX spot and e-commerce at Deutsche Bank in London
As the credit crisis took hold, foreign exchange trading, regarded as a reliable source of profit, surged in popularity among investors. Now, as trading volumes begin to return to pre-crisis levels, the inference is that confidence is slowly returning to the global economy. Writer Charlie Corbett
Zambia's fresh ambition
August 4, 2009Rupiah Banda, the new president of Zambia talks about his vision for transforming the southern African state's economy in the light of a severe economic downturn. Writer Charlie Corbett in Cape Town
Shifting sands: Cash Management
July 7, 2009In these straitened times, effective cash management has rapidly become the priority for both banks and their customers, but this return to so-called back-to-basics banking is anything but basic. This guide charts the changing cash management landscape and how banks can navigate it in order to come out on top when the global economic downturn subsides. Writer Charlie Corbett
A different picture
July 7, 2009
Jacob Zuma, South Africa's new president
Some of the world's most powerful leaders and investors met in Cape Town last month for the World Economic Forum. They discussed the impact of the global downturn on Africa and how the continent could use it as an opportunity to build a platform for growth. Writer Charlie Corbett in Cape Town
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/ South Africa
Standard Bank benefits from its Chinese partnership
July 7, 2009The chief executive of South Africa's Standard Bank, Jacko Maree, talks about his international aspirations and how he is taking advantage of the relationship with Chinese state-owned banking giant ICBC to expand Standard Bank's global presence. Writer Charlie Corbett in Cape Town
Leaning against the wind
July 7, 2009South Africa's banking sector has so far proved resilient to the country's worst recession in 17 years, but faced with soaring unemployment and high levels of consumer debt, the biggest challenges lie ahead. Writer Charlie Corbett in Johannesburg and Cape Town