According to Wikipedia, India is the “fifth largest electronic waste producer in the world” with approximately 2 million tons of e-waste being generated annually plus an undisclosed amount of e-waste coming from other countries around the world.
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US President Joe Biden has reversed a Trump administration policy that prohibited US funding for nongovernmental groups that provide or refer patients for abortions.
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Uruguay’s current government has been pushing for financial inclusion and putting in place new banking laws that support the use of electronic payments, among other measures.
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Chile’s biggest challenge for the banking sector and specially for FinTechs is to make people move their money from “under the mattress” to a bank. Being innovative with disruptive solutions is a game changer for Chilean FinTechs.
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Argentina has a very different economic history than its neighboring countries like Brazil. The Argentinian banking industry is broken and more FinTech startups are challenging the status quo, despite many hurdles.
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Ethiopian leaders have always been preoccupied with protecting its territorial integrity. This preoccupation has often involved neighbouring states with an interest in Ethiopian statehood, most notably Somalia and Eritrea.
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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).
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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…
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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…
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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…
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