Just behind Brazil and Mexico, Colombia has become very attractive for FinTechs. The growth rate of the Colombia FinTech industry has reached 60% in 2019 (20% more than the regional average).
Read MoreCategory: emerging markets
FinTech in Mexico: surge in digital banking targeting Millennials and Gen Z
Mexico’s FinTech landscape is as diverse as Brazil’s, with the payments & remittances sector as the biggest, followed by consumer lending in the number of FinTech
Read MoreThe Future of FinTech in Brazil: digital maturity and verticalization
Latin America FinTech series – To understand the future of Brazil’s FinTech landscape we need to look at the present situation.
Read MoreFinTech in Brazil: Challenger banks unlocking credit to millions of people
Latin America FinTech Series –
Unlocking credit for millions would be essential for Brazil’s economy. So, how does a FinTech do this when most of clients don’t even have a credit history to begin with?
Read MoreBrazil: Telegram exponential growth despite WhatsApp monopoly
WhatApp is the most used messaging app by Brazilians, but Telegram is already present in 35% of mobile users, report shows.
Read MoreBrazil’s financial paradox: where cash is king and digital currency rumors
Brazil’s government just launched its R$ 200 note while the Central Bank hints about a possibility of a digital currency.
Read MoreHow is COVID-19 affecting the outlook of Myanmar’s garments industry?
A single industry can push frontier markets into the mainstream. For Myanmar this was pegged to be the garments industry. With wages rising in China, manufacturers and investors have been searching for the new factory of the world. Are the fundamentals in Myanmar strong enough to weather the coronavirus pandemic and to rise above its ASEAN neighbours? Sector overview Garment exports rose from $349m in 2010 to over $4.6bn in 2018. With over 530 factories across the country, and a factory compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 18%, this exceptional…
Read MoreSoutheast Asia’s tourism and travel sector after COVID-19: a way forward
The coronavirus started in China before spreading to other countries. Southeast Asia’s travel and tourism sector felt the impact of the virus right away due to the decline in arrivals from China. The subsequent spread of the virus resulted in lockdowns and other social restriction policies which made the damage to the sector even worse. With tourism and travel activities coming to an almost complete halt, ASEAN governments are now slowly looking for a way out. Powerhouse Tourism and travel are undeniably important to the Southeast Asian region. The sector…
Read MoreEmerging markets are in trouble, but there might be hope
Emerging markets and frontier markets, despite their huge potential, represent risk. That is particularly noticeable in times of crisis like today. The Institute of International Finance (IIF) reported that investors have taken $95b USD out of Emerging Market stocks and bonds since late January. Fiscal challenges Investors have every reason to be concerned. Most emerging market governments have large budget deficits and unsustainable public debt ratios. Both human and fiscal costs could eventually force distressed emerging markets to default on their debts. Capital Economics notes that 17 emerging market governments…
Read MoreHow the coronavirus is impacting Egypt’s economic outlook
Egypt has been identified as the origin of several coronavirus infections in other countries long before it confirmed its own cases. The country appears to have slowed down its initial response due to political necessity and in order to support the tourism sector, as well as its inadequate healthcare infrastructure. Regardless, the impact of the crisis on Egypt’s economy is inevitable. Political Instability So far, Egypt has imposed a nationwide overnight curfew and ban on public gatherings during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan. In this period, Muslims traditionally come…
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