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Opportunity International and MyBucks: The Future of Digital Microfinance?
Back in November 2015, to little fanfare, microfinance pioneer Opportunity International agreed to sell six banks serving sub-Saharan Africa to the MyBucks Group, a Luxembourg-based fintech company. By all accounts, this should have been bigger news, as it touches upon many of the topics and trends that are reshaping the microfinance sector, from the role of fintech to the question of responsible exits. Daniel Rozas and Gabriela Erice García explore the very real opportunities and challenges generated by this deal.
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India’s HDFC Bank launches digital bank for SMEs
In its aim to grow its corporate market share, India’s HDFC Bank, the country’s second largest private sector lender, has announced a digital bank for its small and medium enterprises (SME) customers.
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- South Asia
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Kenya, Uganda in Plans to Pull Informal Sector Into Tax Bracket
The turnover tax was passed in the Finance Act 2006, and the rate charged is 3 per cent. Businesses taxed under this Act are expected to maintain cashbooks, sales receipts and invoices, daily sales summaries, purchase invoices and bank statements. The penalty for failing to file returns by the due date is $20.
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- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Impact Investing conference to take place in Vatican
The Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, along with Catholic Relief Services, will host the event whose focus is on capacity building for Church enterprises. Impact investing actively seeks to make a positive impact by investing in non-profits that benefit the community or in clean technology enterprises.
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- Europe & Eurasia
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- impact investing
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India’s Credit Information Bureau expands into small and micro loans segment
While speaking about CIBIL’s expansion in the small and micro loan segment Ratna Vishwanathan, CEO of MFIN commented, “Although banks have started providing data to all credit bureaus, CIBIL’s expertise in data insights and solutions is very valuable in the context of a more complete credit profile. CIBIL’s experience and leadership in handling a bureau will be a good value addition to the MFI credit rating ecosystem.”
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- South Asia
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Global Entrepreneurship Summit to boost social business agenda
The 7th annual Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), set to open this week in Silicon Valley, has attracted over 1,000 conferees out of 4,500 applicants from around the world. It will be hosted by President Barack Obama who, starting with the inaugural summit in 2009, has made entrepreneurship promotion an element of his foreign policy.
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- North America
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Roundup: Jo Cox remembered, investors collaborate and Kenyan cabs
In this week's extensive Roundup, we remember Jo Cox, who was an extraordinary global health advocate; look at the leverage held by smallholder farmers; and wonder if Littlecabs will end up being a big headache for Uber in Kenya. Plus plenty more.
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India’s fintech revolution is primed to put banks out of business
While global stock markets reset and U.S. tech unicorns readjust to new expectations and valuations, India’s tech renaissance is just beginning to flourish.
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- South Asia
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- fintech