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Mobile Finance and Commerce 2.0: Mondato Summit Asia to discuss why emerging Asia could lead the way – Oct. 20-21, 2015
The mobile finance and commerce (MFC) ecosystem in the Philippines and across emerging Asia has grown to the point where it is on the verge of producing “MFC 2.0,” and leading the world in innovation. Mondato Summit Asia will bring together thought leaders and practitioners in Manila on Oct. 20-21 to discuss what the future of MFC is likely to look like in this region and beyond.
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- Uncategorized
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The Risks of Government-Led Financial Inclusion: Why agent networks in India need to move beyond government mandates
Over the years, the government of India has facilitated financial access by promoting account opening through various programs. And, at first glance, some of the numbers associated with the government's inclusion mandates look good. But a more detailed look reveals a bleak picture that includes high agent attrition and low account activity rates.
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- Impact Assessment
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Vision and Discipline: How to Innovate for Increased Financial Inclusion
Globally, some two billion working-age adults in emerging markets are excluded from the type of financial intermediation that we take for granted in the developed world: a transaction account to send and receive money; the ability to save for a rainy day; access to credit if needed for bigger, spiky outlays; insurance to help mitigate the financial consequences of an unfortunate event.
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- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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Viewpoint: Why India’s Department of Post Should Be Restructured for Financial Inclusion and Efficiency
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) recently gave a licence to India Post to function as a payments bank. Does it change anything for the people? Post offices in India have already been working as payments banks. Individuals open accounts, deposit and withdraw money by cash or cheques and receive payments through them. All these transactions are meticulously recorded manually in their passbook. Post offices do not provide any loans or carry out any credit transaction. This has been in operation for more than a century and much before the RBI came into existence. So, what would change after the RBI’s licence?
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- Region
- South Asia
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Financial Inclusion a Theme at MasterCard Investor Day
During MasterCard’s Investment Community Meeting on Wednesday (Sept. 9), the remarks from CEO Ajay Banga and his executive team gave a pretty good indication into how MasterCard views its role in the fast-moving digital payments ecosystem.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Foreign Investment Approved for White-Label ATMs in India – But Hurdles Remain
In order to boost a space that has grown at a snail’s pace, the government on Wednesday approved 100% foreign direct investment (FDI) under the automatic route for non-bank entities that operate cash machines, subject to certain conditions. Wednesday’s move, the government said, will help improve financial inclusion in the country.
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- Uncategorized
- Region
- South Asia
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Rising Star or Red Flag?: South Africa’s financial inclusion growth raises questions for the entire industry
South Africa placed second in a recent Brookings Institute study comparing financial inclusion in 21 developing countries – surpassed only by Kenya. But though this has led to celebration in some quarters, there’s a troubling aspect to these findings. Illana Melzer argues that the risks of burgeoning financial access and usage are too significant for beneficiaries, development organizations and donors to ignore.
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- Education, Impact Assessment
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New Report Examines Payment Aspects of Financial Inclusion
The Committee on Payments and Market Infrastructures (CPMI) and the World Bank Group today issued a consultative report on Payment aspects of financial inclusion. The report examines demand and supply-side factors affecting financial inclusion in the context of payment systems and services, and suggests measures to address these issues.
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