Catalys and Demica forge strategic alliance to spearhead SCF developments in Africa
by Kylene Casanova
Supply chain finance market hots up as suppliers form strategic alliances to open open up regions
Cash & Liq. Mngm in Middle East & Africa
Background
The Middle East Africa region has some of the poorest countries as well as some of the richest. In many countries, the development of the banking infrastructure is underway and basic payment…
Read moreCreating and Issuing Effective Requests for Proposal
by Kylene Casanova
Checklist to save yourself and your bidders time and money
Nigeria’s Real Time Gross Settlement System goes live on SWIFT
by Kylene Casanova
Important step in the development of West African Monetary Zone
Barclays launches dedicated London-Africa trade desk for UK based global corporates
by Kylene Casanova
Offering locally based expertise and advice on the Africa market
Cash, Trade and Treasurer’s Handbook for the Middle East - 2013
by Kylene Casanova
Country report from World Wide Country Profiles
Opening up emerging and under-developed markets
by Kylene Casanova
Use mobile point of sale terminals and mobile software
Citi expands global commercial card platform into Turkey
by Kylene Casanova
Citi is adding Turkey to its global commercial card programme platform. They have offered commercial cards in Turkey for some time, but migration onto Citi's global platform enables both
Citigroup setting up a representative office in Iraq
by Kylene Casanova
Citigroup received approval this week to open a representative office in Baghdad and will consider more such offices in the country. Even though in other emerging markets they are withdrawing, in
Banks Cash Management Coverage and Services in Middle East & Africa 2013 Report
by Kylene Casanova
J&W Associates‘ annual survey of the banks in Middle East & Africa cash management coverage and services, showed that the coverage remain relatively unchanged. In Sub-Saharan Africa three banks dominate with:
Warning: Financial Transaction Tax will affect other countries too
by Kylene Casanova
Opposition to the Financial Transaction Tax is growing as associations and corporates around the world wake up to the impact.
Standard Chartered acquires custody business in South Africa from Absa Bank and now has custody serv
by Kylene Casanova
This acquisition builds on the significant investment Standard Chartered has already made in its African franchise. In addition to substantial organic investment, the Group acquired First Africa (a
Basel III reshapes trade finance and opens up opportunities for African banks look to fill gaps left
by Kylene Casanova
As Basel III regulations come into play, banks are looking to manage their bulk balance sheets by divesting their trade finance assets, creating a gap in the market.
Security concerns in Middle East trade increase demand for LCs and credit insurance
by Kylene Casanova
Companies in the Middle East are looking for maximum security in trade transactions after being doubly hit by the financial crisis and the Arab Spring. Middle East companies and banks are being extremely cautious wh
Expansion of e-Cash and mobile payments at point of sale in Africa continues
by Kylene Casanova
The latest example of the expansion of e-cash in Africa is in Rwanda where the mobile payment platform MobiCash and financial institution KCB Bank has launched BioCash, a financial service that uses the national ID
Standard Chartered opens access to Islamic Banking via new Shariah compliant version of Straight2Ban
by Kylene Casanova
Standard Chartered Bank has announced the launch of an Islamic version of its on-line banking platform, Straight2Bank. The enhanced platform expands client access to the Bank's Islamic products by
Citi to issue commercial cards in Kuwait
by Kylene Casanova
Citi, through its transaction services unit, is launching a commercial card offering in Kuwait to its local large corporate and multinational clients. With Kuwait added to the list of issuing countries, Citi Commerc
AfDB, Citi and IFC to support trade finance in Africa
by Kylene Casanova
The African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, Citi and International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, have agreed to provide a US$175m three-year revolving credit facility covering short ter
‘The Treasury Managers’ Handbook for Africa’ from WWCP and Barclays
by Kylene Casanova
Richard Southey, Head of Cash Management, Africa, Barclays and Absa concludes in his introduction to this detailed handbook that: 'For any corporate looking to do business in Africa.....treasurers should be mindful
Standard Chartered launches enhanced working capital management and liquidity management solutions f
by Kylene Casanova
Standard Chartered Bank today announced that it was rolling out a series of cash management enhancements that significantly improves the ability to manage working capital. Tehey are designed to deliver increased vis
Standard Chartered launches Integrated Custody Platform to support clients’ growth in emerging marke
by Kylene Casanova
Standard Chartered Bank today announced that it had launched an integrated direct and regional custody platform for its investor and intermediary clients to capture growth opportunities in the fast-growing markets a
The booming sukuk issuance opportunity
by Kylene Casanova
Sukuk issuance utilizes a number of different shariah structures all making use of the purchase undertaking. Sukuk issuance is booming: Global sukuk issuance exceeded $85bn last year,
Barclays and Absa Group in talks to combine their Africa-based assets
by Kylene Casanova
Barclays PLC and South Africa's Absa Group Ltd. are in discussions to combine their Africa-based assets, a move they hope will accelerate the banks' expansion across the continent. Barclays, which has a 55.5% shareh
Barclays extends Pingit to Kenya
by Kylene Casanova
Launched in the UK earlier this year, Pingit is a person-to-person payment service that enables people to send and receive money using mobile phone numbers.
Although cash still dominates sub-Saharan domestic remittances, mobiles and mobile money are key eve
by Kylene Casanova
The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation foundation commissioned pollster Gallup to carry out face-to-face interviews with 1000 adults in each of 11 sub-Saharan countries: Botswana, Congo, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, S