“Remittances to Latin America and the Caribbean in 2012: Differing Behavior Across Subregions;” by Maria Luisa Hayem; published by the Multilateral Investment Fund (MIF); 2013; 27 pages; available at http://www5.iadb.org/mif/HOME/Knowledge/tabid/426/idPublication/78709/language/en-US/Default.aspx
This report from the US-based Multilateral Investment Fund provides an analysis of remittances received across national borders by people in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).
A recent report from Bangladesh’s Microcredit Regulatory Authority (MRA), a Bangladeshi agency charged with licensing and supervising microfinance institutions (MFIs), reportedly indicates that as of June 2012, the end of the last fiscal year, Bangladeshi MFIs have disbursed approximately BDT 211 billion (USD 2.7 billion) in microcredit since such data has been tracked.
Habib Bank Limited (HBL), a Pakistani commercial bank, has implemented a new branchless banking service, HBL Express.
Accion, a US-based provider of microenterprise loans and business training in 31 countries, has announced that its Accion Venture Lab, which provides seed capital and management support to financial inclusion startups, will invest an aggregate of USD 10 million in startup companies that deliver financial services to poor people around the globe.
“Rural Finance in Loas: GIZ Experience in Remote Rural Areas;” by Klaus Prochaska, Dennis Fischer, Philipp Hauger, Tony Deary; published by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ); December 2012; 40 pages; available at: http://www.microfinancegateway.org/gm/document-1.9.61072/Rural_Finance_in%20Laos_Paper_GIZ_2012.pdf
This report presents an analysis of the “Microfinance in Rural Areas – Access to Finance for the Poor” project, which is operated by Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), an agency of the German Government, in partnership with the Bank of Lao, the central bank of Laos.
Absolute Portfolio Management (APM), an Austria-based firm that invests in microfinance and other sectors, recently notified MicroCapital that it loaned the equivalent of USD 13 million during April 2013 through two of the funds that it manages to microfinance institutions (MFIs) in Armenia, Azerbaijan, Ecuador, Honduras, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Peru, the Philippines, Russia and Tajikistan. Of this amount, USD 7.5 million was issued in local currency.
According to data presented by Deepali Pant Joshi, executive director of Reserve Bank of India (RBI), at the recent International Summit of Skill Development in New Delhi, the number of villages with access to banks has risen from 67,000 in March 2010 to 211,000 in December 2012 out of a total of 600,000 villages in the country.
Event Name: 2013 Partnerships Against Poverty Summit
Event Date: October 9-11, 2013
Event Location: Philippine International Convention Center, Manila, Philippines
Hattha Kaksekar Limited, a Cambodian microfinance institution (MFI), recently announced its launch of SmartVista, an electronic payments solution created by Banking Production Centre (BPC) Banking Technologies, a mobile technology solutions provider with offices in Asia, Europe, Latin America and Russia.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-investment arm of the World Bank Group, has provided a finance facility totaling CNY 500 million (USD 80 million) to China’s Bank of Shanghai to on-lend to energy-efficiency and renewable-energy projects among small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in China.
Microinsurance providers in India have recently implemented strategies such as street plays and handwritten postcards in local languages to increase policy renewals.
Citrus Pay, a Mumbai-based digital payments service provider, and Ezetap Mobile Solutions, a Bangalore-based mobile payments service provider, have developed electronic payment platforms that address internet security and connectivity challenges, both of which have discouraged Indian consumers from using digital payment methods.
Stree Nidhi Credit Cooperation Federation Limited, a microfinance bank established by the government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh, recently agreed to loan INR 16.9 billion (USD 308 million) to self-help groups (SHGs) in Andhra Pradesh during the fiscal year ending March 2014.
Nonprofit Indian microfinance institution (MFI) Cashpor Micro Credit and Indian non-banking finance company (NBFC) Utkarsh Microfinance Private Limited each have implemented technology-based procedures to improve efficiency.
The International Finance Corporation (IFC), the private-arm of the World Bank Group, reportedly has announced it will lend USD 10 million in commercial funds each to Indian microfinance institutions (MFIs) Equitas and Ujjivan Financial Services.
The Royal Bank of Scotland Group (RBS), a banking and insurance company with operations in Europe, North America and Asia, reportedly has sold its 4.6-percent stake in SKS Microfinance, an Indian microfinance institution, through the open market to Merrill Lynch Capital Markets Espana, a subsidiary of US-based Bank of America.
“Study on the Drivers of Over-Indebtedness of Microfinance Borrowers in Cambodia: An In-depth Investigation of Saturated Areas;” by Dannet Liv; published by BlueOrchard Microfinance Investment Management, Incofin Investment Management, Oikocredit; March 2013; 83 pages; available at: http://www.blueorchard.com/jahia/webdav/site/blueorchard/shared/Publications%20and%20Resources/News%20%26%20Press%20releases/OID-Final%20Report.pdf
This report presents an analysis of the factors that drive microfinance borrowers in Cambodia to take on excessive levels of debt.
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), the central bank of the Philippines, reportedly has increased the maximum allowable account balance for savings accounts at microbanking offices (MBOs) to PHP 40,000 (USD 968) from PHP 15,000 (USD 363).