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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.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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India’s New “Payment Banks” Expected to Spur Innovation
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Thursday released the final guidelines for licensing of payments and small banks. These banks are intended to cover the unbanked and underbanked areas and increase banking penetration in the country, stated the circular. Let’s take a look at the changes that these banks are likely to bring in financial services.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
- Tags
- lending, microfinance
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Vodacom Looking to Expand Use of M-pesa
Vodacom is in talks with small and big companies with the aim of getting them to use its mobile payment platform, m-pesa, to pay salaries to employees and allow customers to pay for goods using the system.
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- Uncategorized
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Weekly Roundup – 11/27/14: Giving thanks, near and far
We’re wrapping up the week a bit early due to the Thanksgiving holiday week. NextBillion will resume its normal publishing schedule on Monday. For U.S. readers, on behalf of the NB team, we hope you had/have a happy Thanksgiving. For our non-American audience, which comprises the vast majority of our readers, we wish you the same holiday sentiments; those being abundance and health, and the blessings that come with each.
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It’s About Launching Ecosystems, Not Just Products: Insights on the next generation of mobile financial services from the Mondato Summit Asia
As the explosive growth of mobile financial services (MFS) reshapes economies around the world, the Mondato Summit Asia brought an impressive line-up of speakers and panelists from all parts of the ecosystem to explore the next generation of MFS in Southeast Asia. Chris Connolly delivers some highlights - and tweets - from the recent conference.
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Finance: Egypt’s Small Borrowers Have Big Potential
A new law permitting non-bank for-profit lending institutions may unleash a revolution in microfinance by allowing more actors and innovators to get involved.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
- Tags
- microfinance
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NBFCs say Reserve Bank of India’s new rules will work against financial inclusion, drive towards unscrupulous moneylenders
On a typical day, Rohit Bokhare makes about Rs 800 taking passengers in his Mahindra Xylo between Saki Naka in Andheri and Adlabs Imagica on the Mumbai-Pune expressway in Raigad district. The 51-year-old defaulted on repayment of the loan he took to purchase the utility vehicle for four months, which led his financier to come inquiring. Shriram Transport Finance, the non-bank finance company that financed the vehicle, last week found his Xylo lying in a garage for repair for 20-25 days, blocking his regular cash flow. To top it up, Bokhare had a repair bill of Rs 20,000-25,000. He couldn't pay the EMIs in the previous months because of family exigencies.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Kenya: Equity’s SIM Technology to Go Live By March – James Mwangi
EQUITY Bank plans to officially launch its mobile money platform Equitel - the trading brand of its telecoms subsidiary Finserve Africa - next quarter, chief executive James Mwangi said yesterday.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- mobile finance