The National Bank of Cambodia and Bank of the Lao PDR, the central banks of the two countries, recently launched a payment system based on QR codes. The goal of the program is to “promote the usage of national currency,
Tag: South Asia, East Asia and Pacific
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Non-performing Loan (NPL) Ratios Up Among Microfinance Providers in Bangladesh
Bangladesh Bank, the country’s central bank, recently reported that the volume of non-performing loans (NPLs) in the domestic microcredit industry rose from BDT 45 billion (USD 412 million) in the fiscal year ending March 2021 (FY21) to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Light Microfinance, IppoPay Partner to Offer Digital Lending to MSMEs in Rural India
Two Indian firms, Light Microfinance and IppoPay, have announced they will work together to offer digital lending services to micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs) in “rural and semi-urban micro-markets” in four states:
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: ADB Issues Local-currency Bond in Mongolia to Finance Invescore Lending to Women-led MSMEs
The multilateral Asian Development Bank (ADB) recently issued a local-currency, three-year bond in Mongolia with a face value of MNT 13.7 billion (USD 4 million) and a coupon rate of 11.25 percent paid out semi-annually. The proceeds are to fund Invescore, a non-banking financial institution in Mongolia, to
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “Financing the Blue Economy;” by Michael Adams et al; Published by Asian Development Bank, UNDP, UNEP
The Asian Development Bank (ADB) describes the “blue economy” as including 16 ocean-related market segments. The authors rank these segments in order of
MICROFINANCE PAPER WRAP-UP: “The Opportunity for Digital and E-commerce Payments in the Pacific Region,” by Chris Statham et al, Published by UNCDF
This paper explores the challenges and opportunities associated with leveraging digital payment structures, including how such structures might promote financial inclusion and improve economic conditions in the Pacific Island region. The study focuses on six of the 14 archipelagic countries in the region that are in
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Fusion Microfinance Raises $12m in Debt from Bank im Bistum Essen (BIB) to Increase Financial Inclusion for Women in India
Fusion Microfinance, a microfinance institution in India, recently borrowed EUR 10 million (USD 12.2 million) from Bank im Bistum Essen (BIB), a cooperative bank based in Germany. The loan proceeds are intended for Fusion Microfinance to
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) Among Banks Requiring Third-Party Assessment of Codes of Conduct from Microfinance Institutions (MFIs) Seeking Wholesale Loans
A group of lenders headed by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), a state-owned bank, have made it compulsory for microfinance institutions (MFIs) in the country to undergo third-party assessments of their codes of conduct in order to receive loans.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Accion’s Frontier Investments, Saama Capital Invest $4m in Equity in Shubham Housing Development Finance of India
Frontier Investments Group, an investment vehicle of the US-based nonprofit Accion, recently announced that it, along with Saama Capital, a venture focused investment firm in India, invested a total of USD 4 million in equity in India’s Shubham Housing Development Finance Company.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Banks in Indonesia Claim Readiness for Branchless Banking, Pending Regulation Issuance
Banks across Indonesia have reportedly stated that their information technology systems will be ready to handle branchless banking by 2013 pending the issuance of authorizing regulation from Bank Indonesia (BI), the country’s central bank and financial regulator.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Globe Telecom of the Philippines to Expand GCash Mobile Services to Point of Sale (POS)
Globe Telecom, a telecommunications company in the Philippines, is reportedly planning on expanding its GCash mobile services to include point-of-sale (POS).
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD): Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) Owed by Self-Help Groups (SHGs) in India Rise 50% to $400m
The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD), an institution of the Indian government, released a report entitled “Status of Microfinance in India, 2011-12” that indicates that non-performing assets (NPAs) owed by self-help groups (SHGs) in the country were increasing and that lenders were cutting back their exposure to SHGs as a result. SHGs are village based financial intermediaries that facilitate microcredit and saving.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: Central Bank of Sri Lanka Hopes Third Time is Charm for Microfinance Institutions Law
The Central Bank of Sri Lanka (CBSL) has reportedly floated a third draft of legislation to regulate microfinance institutions (MFIs) with the intent of ensuring financial stability in the sector.
MICROCAPITAL BRIEF: responsAbility Social Investments Loans $8m to Prasac of Cambodia, $1m to ASKI of the Philippines
ResponsAbility Social Investments, a for-profit Swiss fund manager, recently disbursed USD 8 million in debt to Prasac, a microfinance institution (MFI) in Cambodia.