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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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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E-doctor apps (also known as telemedicine) have benefited from structural problems in Indonesia’s healthcare sector and the country’s booming digital economy over the last decade. The coronavirus crisis turns out to be a further boost for the sector, possibly fueling the creation of a unique digitally native medical system. Start-up Culture Many telemedicine start-ups have emerged in Indonesia over the last years. Alodokter, Halodoc and GrabHealth are the most prominent and offer easily accessible digital consultations. Indonesians can even have medicines prescribed and delivered. It is not weird that telemedicine services…
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The International Air Transport Association estimated late March that aviation passenger demand in Asia-Pacific will be reduced by 37% in 2020
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Singapore has build an extensive digital infrastructure as part of its smart nation initiative. It now uses that experience and knowledge to quickly develop tech solutions able to combat the spread of COVID-19.
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