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Economy & Nation Defaults rising in MFI loan book post demonetisation
Post demonetisation, the delinquencies in microfinance institutions (MFI) loan books are rising. Ratings agency ICRA recently downgraded its outlook on two prominent MFIs to negative from stable, mainly due to limited currency supply and disruption in borrower cash flows, which hampered overall the collection efficiency of these lenders
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Asian Development Bank and Credit Access Asia Sign $32 Million Deal to Improve Financial Inclusion in Asia
The Asian Development Bank signed a €30 million ($32 million) equity investment agreement with CreditAccess Asia, a holding company headquartered in Amsterdam, that operates microfinance institutions across Asia, currently serving approximately 1.8 million customers, 99.8% of whom are women.
- Categories
- Investing
- Region
- South Asia
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M-Pesa cash ceiling to go up in bid to boost M-Akiba bond
Plans are in the offing to raise the daily mobile money transaction ceiling from the current Sh140,000 to accommodate higher purchases of the M-Akiba product launched on Thursday.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Social Business Roundup: The Problem with Sachets, the Beauty of Rats and the Dark Side of Cross-Selling
Everyone seems to love the products in individually-sized sachets being sold at the BoP ... except for Mother Nature. Ethiopia's only too happy to roll out the welcome mat for some rats with amazing TB-sniffing skills. A questionable cross-selling strategy in South Africa harms a vulnerable population and raises uncomfortable questions about financial inclusion. It's all part of our weekly Social Business Roundup.
- Categories
- Environment, Health Care, Social Enterprise, Technology
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Starbucks Debuts Mobile App In India
To many, it was a disturbing notion: why was Starbucks taking so long to bring its wildly successful mobile app to its fastest-growing market, India? Almost every day that went by made people only wonder more just what was going on. New word says that it’s finally landing, though, and bringing with it many of the same features that made the original great.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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Viewpoint: Cambodia’s interest rate cap will hurt rural families
On March 13, the National Bank of Cambodia announced a major new policy. Starting April 1, all microfinance institution operating in Cambodia will be required to lend at interest rates no higher than 18 percent per year. This is a deeply misguided regulation that will undo over a decade’s worth of successful financial policies.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Viewpoint: Cambodia’s interest rate cap will hurt rural families
On March 13, the National Bank of Cambodia announced a major new policy. Starting April 1, all microfinance institution operating in Cambodia will be required to lend at interest rates no higher than 18 percent per year. This is a deeply misguided regulation that will undo over a decade’s worth of successful financial policies.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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World Bank approves $450m for banking, financial access in Pakistan
The World Bank has approved a package of measures worth $450 million aimed at expanding banking services and financial access in Pakistan. The ‘Finance for Growth Development Policy’ (FGDP) is a policy credit of $300 million to support the government’s efforts in promoting a more inclusive and transparent financial sector, the World Bank country office in Islamabad announced on Thursday.
- Categories
- Uncategorized
- Region
- North Africa & Near East
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