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African leaders have created the world’s largest free trade area since the WTO—here’s its potential
The agreement has the potential to deliver a great deal for countries on the continent. The hope is that the trade deal will trigger a virtuous cycle of more intra African trade, which in turn will drive the structural transformation of economies – the transition from low productivity and labour intensive activities to higher productivity and skills intensive industrial and service activities—which in turn will produce better paid jobs and make an impact on poverty.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Impact investor Quona Capital plans to raise $150-200 million Fund III
While fintech remains the broader theme for Quona going forward, the company plans to broadbase its investment portfolio across sectors that can leverage fintech to deliver everyday needs in areas such as education, healthcare and insurance and small business.
- Region
- South Asia
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SimbaPay launches AI-powered chatbot that enables global money transfers via text
Digital money transfer provider SimbaPay has launched an AI-powered chatbot service which enables its customers to make international money transfers with just a text.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- digital payments, fintech
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The race to become the world’s leading leading Islamic fintech hub
Malaysia, the UK and Indonesia are leading the race, ranking first, second and third respectively by number of Islamic fintech startups, says Bloomberg Intelligence. However, fierce competition from Middle Eastern countries threatens their supremacy.
- Categories
- Finance
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Access Bank and FMO sign $25 million facility to boost lending
One of the foremost retail banks in Ghana, Access Bank Ghana has entered into another strategic partnership with its long standing financial partner, FMO, the Dutch Development Bank, for a US$ 25 million facility to boost its lending capacity.
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
- Tags
- lending
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Press release: Alipay Expands Global Footprint Into Mexico Through Partnership With Openpay
Alipay, the world’s leading digital payments platform, operated by Ant Financial Services Group, today announced that it is further expanding its footprint in the Americas through a partnership with Openpay in Mexico. Now, Alipay’s more than 600 million active users in China will be able to use Alipay to make purchases from Openpay’s affiliated businesses in Mexico. Alipay is China’s leading payment provider and the primary means of online and mobile payment for Chinese consumers.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Latin America
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One of UK’s biggest banks is going digital in Africa for a share of the mobile money market
UK bank, Standard Chartered, is making a play for the mobile financial services market in Côte d’Ivoire—where it has no physical presence—with the the launch of its first digital-only retail bank. The bank will offer digital services allowing users make transfers and pay bills.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Press release: Women’s World Banking, ExxonMobil Foundation and the Center for Global Development Announce New Global Initiative, She Counts, to Put Financial Tools in the Hands of Women
Today, Women's World Banking, the Center for Global Development, and ExxonMobil Foundation launched She Counts, a global initiative convening and harnessing the power of financial service providers committed to serving women. Announced at a special event hosted by the Council on Foreign Relations, She Counts aims to harness the power of financial services to put savings and financial tools in the hands of underserved women, enabling them to save securely and invest in their businesses.
- Categories
- Finance