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Fintech: Africa welcomes emerging fintech startups
Given financial technology is about smart, innovative, flexible start-ups looking to eat away at traditional financial firms’ intermediary roles, it is not surprising that Africa, with its woefully inefficient banks and sclerotic infrastructure, is feeling the full force of the fintech wave. According to industry players, there is a hive of fintech activity now in most major capitals of Sub-Saharan Africa.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- fintech, mobile finance
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UN report: Social network payments now reach nearly US $3 trillion in China
A new UN study reveals that Alipay and WeChat Pay enabled US$2.9 trillion in Chinese digital payments in 2016, representing a 20-fold increase in the past four years. The data shows that digital payments, using existing platforms and networks, provide access to a wider range of digital financial services, expanding financial inclusion and economic opportunity throughout China and neighboring countries.
- Categories
- Technology
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It’s Amazon versus Alibaba versus Softbank in world’s fastest-growing e-commerce market
Recently published a piece headlined 'India’s e-commerce battle is not Indian anymore' that highlighted the battle between Amazon and China's Alibaba Group in the world's fastest-growing e-commerce market.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Ex-Safaricom chief Joseph set to leave Vodafone
Former Safaricom #ticker:SCOM chief executive Michael Joseph is set to step down as Vodafone’s director of mobile money later this year as part of a wider plan to disengage from all his full-time roles at the telecom giant. Mr Joseph, who is the chairman of Kenya Airways #ticker:KQ, is also set to relinquish his non-executive director positions at Vodafone’s African subsidiaries — Vodacom Mozambique, Vodacom Tanzania and Vodacom Group South Africa.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Grameen Foundation lndia appoints Prabhat Labh as CEO
Grameen Foundation India, an innovator in the use of digital technology to advance financial inclusion, has named Prabhat Labh as its new CEO. He succeeds Chandni Ohri who helped to launch the company and has served as CEO since 2011. An international development expert with more than two decades of experience in leading programs and initiatives across Asia, Africa and North America. Prabhat brings with him an indepth knowledge of financial inclusion.
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- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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‘Fintech startups in Middle East, North Africa raised $100m last decade’
Fintech startups in the Middle East and North Africa have raised $100-million over the last decade, yet 28% fail in their initial years, says a new report by business support organisation Wamda and online payment gateway Payfort.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- fintech
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Australia’s DFAT and XPRIZE Team Up to Tackle Water Scarcity
XPRIZE, Tata Group and innovationXchange are together funding a prize for an affordable solution to water scarcity. The idea is to generate clean water from the air, in situations where water is currently unavailable or inaccessible. XPRIZE will help the top five finalists access advance market commitments, allowing them to test their technology in the field, at scale. Teams have until April 28 to register.
- Categories
- Environment, Technology
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IKEA aims to take 200,000 people out of poverty in massive social sustainability drive
IKEA is to open production centres in refugee camps in Jordan this summer as part of a long-term plan to create employment for 200,000 disadvantaged people around the world through social entrepreneurship programmes.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- employment, manufacturing, refugees
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