Bank

2023 - 2 - 23

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Access Bank's valentine campaign offers discount on retail products (Businessday.ng)

Access Bank, Nigeria's retail giant is offering several discounts and mouth-watering freebies on its retail products and services to…

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How Big Central Bank Gains Can Morph Into Big Losses (The Washington Post)

The US Federal Reserve and other central banks bought trillions of dollars worth of bonds after the global economy nosedived in the face of the pandemic in ...

Just as the Treasury pays interest to bondholders, the Fed pays interest to banks. The lack of Fed remittances means it has all the less headroom. It’s better to think of the Treasury and Fed together as a combined borrowing entity. The Fed credited the banks that were selling the bonds with that amount of cash. It wasn’t told to go out and make a lot of money and remit that on to the Treasury. Between March and February, the Fed raised the top of its target range for interest rates from 0.25% to 4.75%. The ECB had to draw down €1.6 billion of its buffers. The Fed then remits those to the Treasury. In 2021, the Fed sent $109 billion to the department. For the Fed, however, all of this has been entirely incidental. The rules of accounting then required that a liability be created to match those new bank assets, so the Fed credited the banks with a corresponding amount of reserves, on deposit with the Fed. Such so-called quantitative easing (QE) measures not only gave a boost to their economies, but seemingly came at no cost, as the banks conjured the purchase payments out of thin air.

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What Is a Community Bank and Why Consider One? (Yahoo Finance)

There are several benefits customers receive when they bank at financial institutions. What is less discussed, however, are unbanked Americans.

Spain Provides €100 Million Guarantee for a World Bank Project to ... (ReliefWeb)

News and Press Release in English on Ukraine and 1 other country about Contributions, Health and more; published on 23 Feb 2023 by World Bank.

The URTF is a flexible platform that allows the World Bank to prioritize and channel funding to the most urgent development needs identified by the Ukrainian government, with current contributions from Austria, Iceland, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Sweden, and Switzerland. “Spain’s contribution to the World Bank project will reinforce health infrastructures and save lives in Ukraine. This health project, approved by the World Bank in December 2022, is mobilizing partner resources through an innovative framework approach. “This project is helping the Government of Ukraine improve access to primary healthcare and address new health challenges brought on by the war. The project has a strong focus on addressing women’s vulnerability during war. We are pleased by the Government of Spain’s support and contribution to this critical initiative.”

President Biden Announces U.S. Nomination of Ajay Banga to Lead ... (The White House)

Today, President Biden announced that the United States is nominating Ajay Banga, a business leader with extensive experience leading successful ...

He is a past member of the U.S. He is a co-founder of The Cyber Readiness Institute, Vice Chair of the Economic Club of New York and served as a member of President Obama’s Commission on Enhancing National Cybersecurity. He is a member of the Trilateral Commission, a founding trustee of the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum, a former member of the National Committee on United States-China Relations, and Chairman Emeritus of the American India Foundation.

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U.S. Picks Ajay Banga to Lead World Bank (The New York Times)

President Biden tapped the former Mastercard chief executive to run an organization that found itself mired in controversy after comments by the current ...

In a statement following the announcement of the nomination, Ms. Asked about why the White House did not select a woman, as the executive board suggested, the officials pointed to Mr. Biden administration officials said that they did not know if any other country would offer a nominee and explained that they were able to nominate Mr. Although he had a good income when he moved to the United States in 2000, the fact that he was not yet a citizen with a credit history made it a challenge to even buy a cellphone. “It’s not just having a vision, it’s having a practical reality that enables the vision to become something that’s tangible,” Mr. Banga said he approached the effort with the understanding that it would not result in any short-term wins. “You end up applying what are shorter-term solutions to what are very long-term problems,” Mr. Those concerns came to a head in September, when Mr. In 2020, under his watch, the company announced the creation of the Priceless Planet Coalition, a group of about 100 firms that make corporate investments to preserve the environment. [announced his intention to step down](https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/15/climate/david-malpass-world-bank.html) by the end of June, with nearly a year left in his five-year term. “Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history,” President Biden said in a statement. Raised in India, he would bring a firsthand understanding of the challenges that developing countries face.

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US nominates former Mastercard chief as World Bank president (Financial Times)

Ajay Banga tapped by Joe Biden as institution shifts to greater focus on climate change.

For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. Compare Standard and Premium Digital For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital,

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U.S. to 'quickly' nominate candidate to lead World Bank, Yellen says (Reuters)

The United States intends to "quickly" nominate a candidate for the World Bank presidency who is committed to the lender's poverty reduction mission as well ...

Oil prices firmed on Thursday after Brent crude posted its biggest one-day loss for seven weeks in the previous session, with gains on Russian supply curbs capped by an expected rise in U.S. All the news you need to start your day. Make sense of the market with highlights of the latest news and trends in global financial markets.

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US to Pick Ex-Mastercard CEO Banga as World Bank President (Bloomberg)

President Joe Biden will nominate former Mastercard Inc. Chief Executive Officer Ajay Banga in a surprise pick to be the next president of the World Bank as ...

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Biden just named the former Mastercard CEO as his pick to lead the ... (Fortune)

The bank is under intense pressure to do more to help poor countries finance projects to combat and prepare for climate change without saddling them with ...

The head of its sister agency, His five-year term was due to expire in April 2024. [said he had misspoken](https://apnews.com/article/al-gore-world-bank-david-malpass-climate-and-environment-60f4e5c061c2fd164a7b0b8cf93f1013), noting that the bank routinely relies on climate science. “Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history,” Biden said in a statement, adding that Banga “has critical experience mobilizing public-private resources to tackle the most urgent challenges of our time, including climate change.” [Mastercard](https://fortune.com/company/mastercard/) CEO Ajay Banga to lead [the World Bank](https://apnews.com/hub/world-bank), President Joe Biden announced on Thursday, crediting him with critical experience on global challenges including climate change. [announced plans to step down](https://apnews.com/article/politics-us-department-of-the-treasury-united-states-government-world-bank-janet-yellen-9f60901cf1ad242c28f5c44c397d5552) in June from his role leading the 189-nation poverty reduction agency.

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Biden to Nominate Former Mastercard Executive Ajay Banga to ... (The Wall Street Journal)

U.S. typically selects World Bank leader, but bank's board will need to officially approve the nomination.

[How DNA Tied a Noted French-Horn Teacher to a String of Unsolved Sex Crimes](https://www.wsj.com/articles/how-dna-tied-a-noted-french-horn-teacher-to-a-string-of-unsolved-sex-crimes-b8e05926?mod=trending_now_news_1) [Tucker Carlson Obtains Jan. [Walmart promo code 2023 - $20 off $50](https://www.wsj.com/coupons/walmart) [Kohl's Coupon 30% off sitewide](https://www.wsj.com/coupons/kohls) [Wayfair coupon $20 off](https://www.wsj.com/coupons/wayfair) [TurboTax service code 2023 - $20 off](https://www.wsj.com/coupons/turbotax) The board of the World Bank said on Wednesday it would begin accepting nominees before interviewing a shortlist of candidates, with the aim of selecting a new leader by early May.

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How Big Central Bank Gains Can Morph Into Big Losses (Bloomberg)

The US Federal Reserve and other central banks bought trillions of dollars worth of bonds after the global economy nosedived in the face of the pandemic in ...

In 2021, the Fed sent $109 billion to the department. The Fed then remits those to the Treasury. Usually, the operations of the Fed and similar central banks generate some net earnings, derived from the interest it receives on the bonds and other assets it holds.

Statement from Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen on the ... (Treasury)

“I applaud President Biden's decision to nominate Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank. He has the right leadership and management skills, experience living ...

In doing so, the World Bank can serve as a force multiplier for good by setting the right agenda and catalyzing action from across the spectrum – including governments, the private sector, other multilateral development banks, civil society and philanthropies.” Banga’s track record of forging partnerships between the public sector, private sector, and non-profits uniquely equips him to help mobilize the private capital and press for the reforms needed to meet our shared ambitions. While the World Bank will continue to play a key role in improving the lives of people around the globe, it can’t do it alone.

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Biden nominates former MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga to head World ... (Reuters)

U.S. President Joe Biden on Thursday nominated business executive Ajay Banga to become president of the World Bank, lauding his experience forging ...

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Ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga Nominated By US President To ... (NDTV)

US President Joe Biden said Thursday that Washington is nominating former Mastercard chief executive Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank after its current ...

Asked about the World Bank's encouragement for women candidates, a US official told reporters that Banga -- who was born, raised and spent an early part of his career in emerging market India -- had a "personal conviction and excellent track record" in promoting diversity in his work. Banga "has the right leadership and management skills, experience living and working in emerging markets, and financial expertise to lead the World Bank at a critical moment in its history," Yellen said. "These are experiences and priorities that will guide and drive his work in the years ahead at the World Bank," the official said.

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US backs Ajay Banga to lead World Bank in climate fight (Climate Home)

The Indian-American businessman is likely to become the bank's next president, as the US traditionally chooses who leads the institution.

The bank has been led by 13 men and no women. Currently, a country’s needs are based just on how poor it is. The public banks lead for the E3G campaign group Sonia Dunlop welcomed the nomination. [will push](https://climatechangenews.com/2023/02/23/india-set-to-push-for-green-world-bank-reforms-at-g20/) at the G20 this week for the bank to give cheaper climate finance to developing countries than developed ones. The World Bank has become a key focus of efforts to tackle global climate change. Germany’s world bank governor Svenja Schulze tweeted this week “it is definitely time for a woman to lead the World Bank”.

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Biden nominates Banga, former Mastercard CEO, to head World Bank (Politico)

The nomination comes days after current World Bank President David Malpass announced he would resign by July.

He served on an Obama administration trade advisory council, chaired the U.S.-India Business Council, and more recently had been working with Vice President Kamala Harris’ office to “address the root causes of migration from Central America,” a White House official said. “Ajay has proven his ability as a manager of large institutions, and understands investment and the mobilization of capital to power the green transition,” Kerry said in a tweet. “The World Bank is about a host of issues, which includes climate. Banga, an admired figure for decades on Wall Street, rose to prominence at Citigroup as a protege of then-CEO Sandy Weill. Weill had to convince him to take the company jet after 9/11 instead of flying commercial and facing intense immigration scrutiny. The U.S.

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World Bank Group Strategy for Mozambique (2023 - 2027 ... (ReliefWeb)

Manual and Guideline in English on Mozambique about Agriculture and Climate Change and Environment; published on 23 Feb 2023 by World Bank.

“We will continue to pursue opportunities to develop robust public-private partnerships in line with the broader government’s reform agenda,” noted Carlos Katsuya, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Country Manager for Mozambique. “We will invest in fewer, larger, and transformational investments and emphasize the regional dimension of development with a stronger focus on gender, jobs, economic transformation, and governance.” During this new partnership cycle, work will focus on strengthening economic recovery, aligning with the Mozambican government's reform initiative, Pacote de Medidas de Aceleração da Economia (PAE), launched in August 2022.

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US puts forward Ajay Banga to lead World Bank (BBC News)

The move comes as the US increases pressure on the bank to put more emphasis on tackling climate change. Mr Banga led credit card giant Mastercard for more than ...

"There is a lot riding on this next phase of the World Bank's strategy," Ms Glassman said. While there is general consensus that the bank needs to evolve, "there is less agreement on how, and there's a worry about the balancing act that needs to be done," she added. It said female nominees were strongly encouraged.

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Celebrating Love Through Discounts and Freebies: Access Bank ... (NNN)

Celebrating Love Through Discounts and Freebies: Access Bank Launches Valentine Season Campaign This Valentine's season, Access Bank, Nigeria's retail giant ...

[](https://nnn.ng/#:~:text=inet ventures blogger outreach) [](https://nnn.ng/hausa/#=rariya labaran hausa) [](https://nnn.ng/i/#=website shortner) Moreover, Access Bank customers buying brand-new or pre-owned vehicles from any of the bank’s registered dealers throughout Nigeria will access free vehicle registration during this month of love.

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Biden Nominates ex-Mastercard CEO to Lead World Bank - Arise ... (Arise News)

Banga, 63, is Indian-American and currently serving as vice chairman at equity firm General Atlantic. US President Joe Biden said Thursday that Washington ...

Just bringing that together takes somebody that not only has the technical skills, but the political skills,” Moreno added. Luis Alberto Moreno, former president of the Inter-American Development Bank, told AFP that the World Bank is at a transformative moment as the global community grapples with heightened tensions and major development challenges, “the biggest of which has to do with the whole energy and climate transition.” Banga “has the right leadership and management skills, experience living and working in emerging markets, and financial expertise to lead the World Bank at a critical moment in its history,” Yellen said.

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Biden nominates former MasterCard CEO Ajay Banga to head World ... (CNBC)

MasterCard President and CEO Ajay Banga speaks at the US-Africa Business Forum in Washington, Aug. 5, 2014. Drew Angerer | Bloomberg | Getty Images. U.S. ...

For a job of this stature, we need more than a tap on the shoulder from President Biden." "Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history," Biden said in a statement. They all do vastly more to exacerbate inequality than to fight it," he said in a statement. "The World Bank is not a U.S. Banga's nomination is the first to be made public, but the bank will accept nominations from other member countries through March 29. Scott Morris, a senior fellow at the Center for Global Development and a former U.S.

Jordan: Retail Central Bank Digital Currency Exploration (International Monetary Fund)

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) analyzed the retail payments markets of Jordan to identify pain points that retail Central Bank Digital Currency ...

However, the Central Bank of Jordan (CBJ) should rigorously evaluate benefits against risks and costs before forging ahead. Use the free [Adobe Acrobat Reader](http://www.imf.org/adobe) to view this PDF file February 23, 2023

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Customers can access N20m in Sterling Bank, Credit Café partnership (Businessday.ng)

Under a recent partnership between Sterling Bank Plc and Credit Café Africa, a digital lending platform, customers can get a maximum of…

The sectors are health, education, agriculture, renewable energy and transportation The digital platform streamlines the lending process by offering quick, flexible loans for transforming businesses and providing quick access to quality credit. Sterling Bank recently signed a partnership agreement with Credit Café Africa for the distribution of a credit facility template, insurance and other value-added services for existing and potential customers of the bank in the health and education sectors of the economy.

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US nominates ex Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to head World Bank (Aljazeera.com)

India-born Banga has close ties to emerging markets, useful to the Bank which wants to help them on pressing problems.

For a job of this stature, we need more than a tap on the shoulder from President Biden.” Banga, born into a Sikh family in India, is vice chairman of General Atlantic, a US private equity firm that administration officials said has invested more than $800m in electric car charging solutions, solar power and sustainable farming. “Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history,” Biden said in a statement. “They all do vastly more to exacerbate inequality than to fight it.” Banga’s nomination is the first to be made public, but the bank will accept nominations from other member countries through March 29. Asked about Washington’s decision not to nominate a woman, the official said Banga had “a personal conviction and excellent track record promoting diversity, equity and inclusion in the work that he does” and would bring that view to the bank.

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Coronation Merchant Bank Projects 2.8% GDP Growth for 2023 (THISDAY Newspapers)

Furthermore, the effective implementation of the 2022 Finance Act and the Strategic Revenue Growth Initiatives should contribute to the growth drive through ...

“In our base case scenario, we see inflation at 18.3per cent y/y for end-2023,” she added. “Accordingly, we expect that the existing demand patterns in the parallel market will continue. We considered: stable growth in non-oil exports boosted by the RT 200 foreign exchange program, continuous injections by the CBN (avg. We expect weak portfolio investment inflow on the back of negative real returns (yields vs inflation) and the political risks surrounding the 2023 general elections. She noted that there would Be increased foreign exchange demand due to the need for safe- haven currency (USD) on the back of security concerns. According to her, “The services, agriculture and manufacturing sectors are likely to remain key growth drivers, supported by financial interventions by the CBN.

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Naira and bank workers' acrobatic mentality (II) (The Punch)

As I pointed out last Friday, in Nigeria the system has pressured many to engage their mental capacity negatively.

I think of this as an indication of lack of thorough understanding of the factors that contribute to our challenges as a nation. The overall point here is that when people in positions of authority do what they do, when bank workers do what they do with the new naira, thereby causing this much pain to our peoples we mustn’t forget. I’m keenly aware of this narrative in my analysis of what the challenges of this nation are. I was convinced that long before the deadline set by CBN to turn in old naira notes, bank workers who were appropriately placed had calculated the percentages and the millions they could make in the bail-out services they would offer some state governors. There would be a percentage in the form of ‘consultancy fee’ for the bank worker, of course. Even at that stage, weeks before the CBN started sending new naira notes to banks; I was already foreseeing one group of Nigerians playing a part in the effort by any state governor to out-fox the EFCC – the bank workers. This was for the purpose of ridding himself of old naira notes before the deadline to exchange them would catch up with him. The deal was to the effect that once the new notes arrived banks in quantity large enough, moneybags would be the first to be served. We don’t begin to get a clear picture of the damage to the nation and people of this kind of behaviour until we realise it’s just one link in a long chain. Why wouldn’t it be, and why wouldn’t bank workers do business with the new policy when there’s real money to be made? The business of taking in old naira notes and issuing new ones is a long chain. So when the Central Bank of Nigeria says it releases new naira notes but the common man doesn’t get them, no fortune teller needs to tell the man on the street that some bank workers are doing business.

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US nominates ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to lead World Bank (Daily Sabah)

Former Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga has been nominated by the U.S. to lead the World Bank, President Joe Biden announced on Thursday, crediting him with...

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Biden nominates ex-Mastercard CEO Ajay Banga to lead World Bank (Devex)

The White House put forth the Indian-born American citizen and former chief executive of Mastercard to lead the World Bank as it faces pressure from ...

[capital increase](https://www.devex.com/news/world-bank-mulls-capital-increase-climate-focus-in-new-reform-plan-104713), something demanded by key shareholders including the U.S. “His private equity experience could bring some new energy to IFC as well,” she told Devex, referring to the [International Finance Corporation](https://www.devex.com/organizations/international-finance-corporation-ifc-44392), the World Bank’s private-sector arm. In addition to energy, these would include investments in education and in agriculture and rural development, as well as the whole set of interventions around jobs and poverty reduction.” [Partnership for Central America](https://www.centampartnership.org/), a White House initiative that Banga co-chairs under the leadership of Vice President Kamala Harris. Malpass announced [he would step down](https://www.devex.com/news/no-regrets-world-bank-s-malpass-slams-donors-for-climate-hypocrisy-104986) just over a week later, on Feb. “Disappointing not to see a woman nominated by the U.S. At Mastercard, he oversaw the creation of the [Mastercard Center for Inclusive Growth](https://www.devex.com/organizations/mastercard-center-for-inclusive-growth-123232), which promotes financial inclusion in low-income settings worldwide. And just a day before Biden’s announcement, the bank’s board of executive directors [said](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/02/22/selection-of-the-president-of-the-world-bank-group) it “would strongly encourage women candidates to be nominated.” As the bank’s largest shareholder, the U.S. India, for its part, currently holds the Group of 20 presidency. President Joe Biden announced he is nominating Ajay Banga, former Mastercard CEO, to be the next president of the World Bank, according to a White House statement. Banga “has critical experience mobilizing public-private resources to tackle the most urgent challenges of our time, including climate change,” Biden continued.

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FirstFT: Former Mastercard chief nominated as World Bank president (Financial Times)

Also in today's newsletter, Chinese bank executive in line to take the helm at PBoC and Alibaba ekes out sales growth.

For cost savings, you can change your plan at any time online in the “Settings & Account” section. Compare Standard and Premium Digital For a full comparison of Standard and Premium Digital,

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Biden nominates Indian-American businessman Ajay Banga to lead ... (Vanguard)

The President of the United States, Joe Biden has named Indian-American businessman Ajay Banga to lead the World Bank, following the resignation of its ...

However, the bank’s board has the final decision to officially appoint its next president. Banga who was raised in India led credit card giant Mastercard for more than ten years. The President of the United States, Joe Biden, has named Indian-American businessman, Ajay Banga, to lead the World Bank, following the resignation of its current chief.

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Biden has nominated Mastercard's ex-CEO Ajay Banga for World ... (Quartz)

Biden believes Banga has the right skill set to tackle challenges like climate change and poverty.

[had been calling for Malpass’s resignation](https://www.wsj.com/articles/world-banks-david-malpass-says-he-is-not-resigning-amid-criticism-of-his-climate-views-11663947377) since September last year, after he refrained from publicly acknowledging that burning fossil fuels is warming the planet. [stepping down on June 30](https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/press-release/2023/02/15/world-bank-group-president-malpass-announces-intention-to-step-down) earlier this month. “Ajay is uniquely equipped to lead the World Bank at this critical moment in history. Quotable: Biden believes Ajay Banga can tackle climate change and poverty as World Bank president Raised in India, Ajay has a unique perspective on the opportunities and challenges facing developing countries and how the World Bank can deliver on its ambitious agenda to reduce poverty and expand prosperity.” — He has spent more than three decades building and managing successful, global companies that create jobs and bring investment to developing economies, and guiding organizations through periods of fundamental change. Less than a year on, he’ll be named president and CEO. The current leader, former president Donald Trump’s pick Malpass, said he’d be In its 77-year history, the US Banga was born in Pune, in the western Indian state of Maharashtra, on Nov. The bank’s board said on Wednesday (Feb. No other contenders seem to be in the race yet.

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African Development Bank holds first industrial and trade business ... (African Development Bank)

AfDB staff with team of the Egyptian Commercial Services, co-organizers of the first industrial and trade business opportunity Seminar, Cairo, ...

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Ajay Banga: The US nominee for World Bank president (Brookings Institution)

Homi Kharas discusses the nomination of Ajay Banga as the World Bank president and reviews the challenges and priorities ahead for the institution.

He will also be well-versed in the art of persuading finance ministers and other government officials in developing countries to open sensitive sectors to the private sector, a skill he will need if the vested interests in state-owned utilities and other government monopolies are to be overcome. Ceding ownership means losing control and exposing an institution to risks that derive from the actions of its partners. Banga’s job will partly be to encourage donors to provide more aid, and partly to make the case that existing aid can be more effectively used when channeled through multilateral funds, such as those provided by the World Bank. Long-standing calls for the multilaterals to improve efficiency and effectiveness by An added complication: Aid is now needed for many middle-income countries—those suffering loss and damage from climate-related natural disasters, those being encouraged to act in the global interest (for example, coal decommissioning, pandemic surveillance, and nature preservation and conservation), and those where a small amount of grants can catalyze action, like funds needed for project preparation and for legal and financial technical advice on specialized topics and for staffing new platforms. [advance equitable and sustainable economic growth and financial inclusion around the world](https://www.mastercardcenter.org/about-us#our-mission).” The core ideas of equity and sustainability resonate with the discussion today about a new development narrative—the “ [global growth story of the 21st century](https://www.lse.ac.uk/granthaminstitute/publication/the-global-growth-story-of-the-21st-century/)” as Professor Nick Stern and colleagues have called it. The founding World Bank agency—the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development (IBRD)—has successfully used leverage to finance its operations. The co-benefits to rich countries of faster and more sustainable development in developing countries are clear—less conflict and fragility, more trade, biodiversity protection, participation in pandemic surveillance, and of course, climate mitigation and disaster risk reduction. The politics come into even sharper focus when negotiating with governments on contributions to the International Development Association, the concessional lending arm of the World Bank, and other World Bank-managed trust funds, including the Climate Investment Funds. Its shareholders have encouraged it to scale up lending significantly, but opinion is divided as to how much can be done based on existing capital, and how much new capital will be required. Ajay Banga will need all his experience as CEO of Mastercard, a large financial services firm, to find the right balance; partly a technical challenge and partly a political challenge of persuading IBRD’s national government shareholders that he is able to deliver more to all clients—LICs, LMICs, and UMICs—without jeopardizing the financial health of the institution and without changing any one group by paying more attention to the other. One of the most urgent tasks facing the new president is to navigate complex financial waters.

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How To Choose The Right Bank For Your Business And Sector (Forbes)

For most of history, banks were built to serve communities defined by geography. We've seen that rapidly change as technology has dissolved geographic ...

Finding a banker who has insight into your business and sector as well as someone who has empathy and respect for entrepreneurs should be a priority. A banker immersed in the day-to-day realities of the construction business will have better insight and processes to support projects. And mastering those fine points along the way is a matter of experience. Look for the bank to provide custom-tailored solutions to borrowers with operations in multiple states. The majority of products and services in banking have become fairly standardized. Growth opportunities abound, but what many owners of startups may not realize is that choosing a bank with sector expertise to complement your business needs is more important than ever.

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