Africa

Michael Jordaan, co-founder and chairman of Bank Zero, and his team are working around the clock to launch their digital-only bank, which will provide competitive fees and savings rates for consumers.

Slow GDP growth clouds outlook: Mobile technology is bringing banking to the continent’s unbanked, and is expected to help stimulate growth.

Sub-Saharan Africa is already light years ahead of the rest of the world in advancing mobile banking. Now, governments are pressing for more cross-system compatibility.

Given the continent’s large youth population, the future of banking is digital. But who will win the battle for clicks over bricks? The incumbent banks—or fintechs and telcos?

The creation of an African free-trade area is the first step towards a pan-African single market of 1.2 billion people.

Ivory Coast has the fifth highest percentage of adults with mobile money accounts in the world.

While economic growth in Mali shows promise, escalating violence is scaring off foreign investors.

One of Africa’s largest economies is trying to stay afloat in the face of growing challenges.

The rand and South African stocks rallied on the news of Zuma's removal as the republic's president, but challenges remain for his successor.

Overall global FDI declined last year with developed economies seeing a decrease in flows even as developing economies saw an increase.

Serious problems detract from Algeria’s foreign direct investment appeal, although the government is making efforts to improve.

Zimbabwe’s new leadership faces a difficult macroeconomic environment. 

Even as General Electric looks to overhaul its business by selling assets and cutting back on capital expenditure, it is stepping up its investment in Africa—Nigeria in particular. 

Tunisia’s economic problems highlight the need for foreign direct investment to shore up its economy. 

After 37 years of autocratic rule under former President Robert Mugabe, Zimbabwe has been left broke.  Rebuilding promises to be a long, costly and tough process.

Isaac Kamuta, group head, Cash Management & Client Services, Ecobank, spoke with Global Finance Editor Andrea Fiano regarding the bank's mission to facilitate cross-border payments within Africa and the evolution of banking technology and regulation in African countries.

Standard Bank's Head of  Global Trade, Vinod Madhavan talks with Global Finance Editor Andrea Fiano at Sibos 2017 about how volatility in Africa is easing up with the rise in global commodity prices leading to a lesser degree of risk for doing business in Africa.

Riad Salamé, governor of Lebanon’s central bank, discusses economic conditions for his country and the region in general, and how Lebanon benefits from its “strong, healthy and conservative banking sector.”

Tunisia’s economic problems high-light the need for foreign direct investment to shore up its economy. 

These are the ratings for central bank governors from the Middle East and Africa regions in 2017.