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Report: Tencent, Ant Financial Entry to Boost Philippines Financial Services
Tencent and US-based private equity firm KKR marked their entry in the Philippines on October 4 following a deal to invest up to $175 million in PLDT’s digital arm Voyager Innovations.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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What’s happening with crypto in Latin America?
After the death of the global commodity boom that bolstered emerging markets in Central and South America, the region slowed to a crawl. But despite economic troubles in Venezuela and Argentina, Latin America as a whole is on its way back. And the fintech sector is leading the charge.
- Categories
- Finance, Technology
- Region
- Latin America
- Tags
- blockchain, cryptocurrency, fintech
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‘It is Time to Rethink Microfinance’: Exploring a Sector in Transition in the Asia Pacific Region
The Asia Pacific microfinance sector is changing. Its MFIs have seen rampant growth, and the enterprises they serve have financing requirements that are growing more complex. In response, some MFIs are adapting their business models into different types of financial institutions, such as small banks. In short, the sector is evolving from a niche segment to a mainstream industry – with all the challenges and opportunities that implies. The Asia Pacific Microfinance Forum will discuss this evolution in Singapore on October 30-31, bringing together MFIs, NGOs, impact investors, entrepreneurs and others, all committed to building a better world.
- Categories
- Finance
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Brazil’s Nubank is now worth $4 billion after Tencent’s $180 million investment
Through the investment, Tencent will gain an understanding of how Nubank has managed to service 5 million credit card holders, and the game plan the company is deploying to develop its own savings accounts and other banking services.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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Why Kenyan Borrowers Aren’t Scared of Defaulting on Mobile Loans
The majority of Kenyans borrowing loans from mobile phones do not believe they have to pay loans back, a situation that is troubling banks venturing in this lucrative but risky segment.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Zimbabwe is hiking mobile money taxes to plug its fiscal deficit, but it could backfire
In a country with a history of cash shortages, multiple currencies and hyperinflation, mobile money had become a key payment alternative. Cash is hardly ever accessible in Zimbabwe as banks frequently run out of monetary notes, leaving mobile money and bank cards as the only transaction options.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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The Definition of Insanity: Why Repeating the Same Approach to Enterprise Support is Failing Africa’s SMEs
It’s often said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. So in a region where 84 percent of SMEs struggle to access capital, why do investors keep recycling the same failed approaches when financing African enterprises? Mercy Mangeni and Joshua Murima at Intellecap discuss what investors and entrepreneurs have done wrong – and explore some innovative ways their organization is working to make it right.
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Western Union Makes Digital Push Amid Fierce Competition for Money Transfers
Of the $81.8 billion Western Union consumers transferred in 2017, 91% was sent across international borders. Raj Agrawal, finance chief of the company, estimated that westernunion.com money-transfer revenue—which includes use of the mobile app—last year topped $400 million, or about 11% of consumer revenue.
- Categories
- Finance