-
MTN Launches Mobile Money Cross-Border Remittance Service Between Ivory Coast and Benin
Telecoms company MTN today launched mobile money cross-border remittance service between Ivory Coast and Benin. It said the service will further enable cheaper and easy movement of money in the West Africa region.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
PRESS RELEASE: Bima Receives $5 Million Investment to Bring Microinsurance to Asia Pacific, Caribbean
Bima, the leading global microinsurance provider, announced a 5 million USD investment from Digicel Group, the leading total communications and entertainment provider in the Caribbean, Central America and Asia Pacific regions. This investment and the resulting partnership will help Bima to deliver access to affordable insurance on a scale never seen before in those regions.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Asia Pacific
-
Banks in India Charging 22% to 26% on Microloans to Poor Borrowers
When it comes to lending to the poor, it is not just the micro finance institutions that charge high interest rates, but even bulgebracket banks such as Axis Bank to YES Bank charge as much as 22% to 26% a year.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- microfinance
-
Ghana Teams Up With Better Than Cash Alliance In Move Towards Cashless Economy
The Government of Ghana today took steps towards enhancing fiscal transparency and promoting the financial inclusion of its citizens by committing to a United Nations-backed initiative that supports countries’ transitions to electronic payments.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Savings Groups: An Inclusive Emerging Economy, With Africa in the Lead
At a time when news about Africa has been dominated by Ebola, it’s worth observing that a highly encouraging change has been quietly spreading across the continent. Over the past five years, the number of Africans — mainly women — who have joined village-based savings and loan associations has soared to more than nine million. These groups are now operating in 40 countries in Africa. Globally, it’s estimated that 10.5 million people are members of formally trained savings groups in about 65 countries. (PDF) The big story about these groups, including their surprising success and emerging importance in development, comes from Africa.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
-
Reserve Bank of India Prohibits Airtel, Vodafone & Idea From Using Existing Channels for Payments Banks Business
The Reserve Bank of India's final rules on payments banks prohibit telecom operators from leveraging their nationwide retailer networks and channels if they enter the new business, but analysts say this is a good opportunity for mobile phone companies to add another revenue stream given their existing consumer connect.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
Global Health Looks To BRAC and Gates Foundation for Mobile Money
Bangladesh is going digital. Not in smart watches, sensor-based clothing or electronic health records, but in money. Mobile money. Money, that according to BRAC and the Gates Foundation could improve the economic and health outcomes of the country, especially of women and children. With a healthy appreciation of the complexities in scaling digitally, faith in innovation at the grassroots level and years of planning, these organizations just might make mobile money the future of finance.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
-
World Bank Pledges $1.6b for Infrastructure Projects in East Africa
The World Bank said on Saturday it will loan East African nations $1.2 billion (S$1.56 billion) to improve inland waterways and ports in Kenya and Tanzania, as part of efforts to boost integration in the region.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa