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Report: Tencent, Ant Financial Entry to Boost Philippines Financial Services
Tencent and US-based private equity firm KKR marked their entry in the Philippines on October 4 following a deal to invest up to $175 million in PLDT’s digital arm Voyager Innovations.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Asia Pacific
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Why Kenyan Borrowers Aren’t Scared of Defaulting on Mobile Loans
The majority of Kenyans borrowing loans from mobile phones do not believe they have to pay loans back, a situation that is troubling banks venturing in this lucrative but risky segment.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Zimbabwe is hiking mobile money taxes to plug its fiscal deficit, but it could backfire
In a country with a history of cash shortages, multiple currencies and hyperinflation, mobile money had become a key payment alternative. Cash is hardly ever accessible in Zimbabwe as banks frequently run out of monetary notes, leaving mobile money and bank cards as the only transaction options.
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Western Union Makes Digital Push Amid Fierce Competition for Money Transfers
Of the $81.8 billion Western Union consumers transferred in 2017, 91% was sent across international borders. Raj Agrawal, finance chief of the company, estimated that westernunion.com money-transfer revenue—which includes use of the mobile app—last year topped $400 million, or about 11% of consumer revenue.
- Categories
- Finance
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Introducing the Mobile Money Regulatory Index
The Mobile Money Regulatory Index is intended to support dialogue between regulators and mobile money providers on reforms that can promote market growth. For the development community, the Index will help identify subject areas and markets where technical assistance to governments and regulators can have the biggest impact.
- Categories
- Finance
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Accelerating the SDGs: How Digital Finance Can Ignite Faster Progress Toward the Global Goals
With 2030 gradually drawing nearer, how can the world accelerate progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals? Global leaders discussed that question at the United Nations General Assembly last week, and according to Ruth Goodwin-Groen at the U.N.-based Better Than Cash Alliance, digital financial inclusion is emerging as a key answer. She discusses how digital financial services can be an important part of the solution for critical issues like hunger, health and climate change – and profiles a few of the growing number of governments and companies that are leading by example.
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- Finance
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Press release: CGAP Launches Photo and Video Contest Theme for 2018: Financial Inclusion in Africa
This year CGAP is looking for original and compelling photographs and short videos that tell the story of how financial services empower poor people and communities in Africa. The region is a center for financial innovation -- home to M-Pesa, the mobile money service launched a decade ago now replicated across markets worldwide; host to vibrant FinTech and e-commerce companies; and to a growing off-grid sector that leverages digital finance.
- Source
- Press release
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Metlife launches their i3 program in Bangladesh
Regional Director for Asia at MicroSave Manoj K Sharma said: “Although the mobile financial services in Bangladesh have been very successful, it is time to build upon this success story and translate it into a larger play around financial inclusion.”
- Categories
- Finance
- Region
- South Asia