CFI.co Spring 2019 – Chairman and Columnist: Tor Svensson
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- FinanceEconomics & Development
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- Banking & Finance
IFC’s Blended Finance Department: Blending Public and Private Finance to Invest in Challenging Markets
What can be done to encourage more private investment in developing countries, especially the poorest and
John Häfelfinger, CEO of Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (BLKB): Finding Strength and Promise by Planning for the Long Term
John Häfelfinger, CEO of Basellandschaftliche Kantonalbank (BLKB), talks to CFI.co about the opportunities afforded by sustainable
Asian Development Bank: What Emerging Markets Can Teach Us About CSR
Fifty years after Milton Friedman’s famous essay arguing that companies should focus solely on shareholder profits,
- Markets
Otaviano Canuto: Dependency and Disconnect of U.S. Financial Markets
U.S. stock and corporate bond markets performed extraordinarily well from the March financial shock caused by
Evan Harvey, Nasdaq: Medium Is the Message – ESG Delivery and Market Distrust
Despite cultural assumptions surrounding content and interpretation, we tend to believe that the way we communicate
Davos: Seizing the Moment – Or Not
The man himself was unable to attend the proceedings in Davos – he has other commitments,
- SMEs
CBRE: Approaching Shadows of Data Opacity and Risk From Flexible Office Market
We live in a world that offers and value tailored convenience. We are accustomed to the
Financial Centres Promote Economic Development: AIFC Goes for Growth by Backing SMEs Globally
International Financial Centres (IFCs) are a necessary component of national and global economic growth. And increasingly,
UNCTAD: Africa Rising
Africa needs investment to advance sustainable development and see the continent prosper. James Zhan, Astrit Sulstarova
- Economics & Convergence
Brexit: Fishing in Troubled Waters
It’s perhaps a case of having your fish and eating it too. The number of analogies
Otaviano Canuto, Center for Macroeconomics and Development: China’s Rebalancing Act is Slowly Addressing Sliding Growth Figures
China’s economic growth has been sliding since 2011, while its economic structure has gradually rebalanced toward
UAE Backs China’s One Belt One Road Initiative at Annual Investment Meeting
His Excellency Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Ministry of Economy UAE stated,“ Trade activities
- Banking & Finance
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- SustainabilityBusiness Environment
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- CSR
Evan Harvey, Nasdaq: The Board Perspective on ESG
Sustainability is a moving target. Though we might want uniformity, unanimity, and harmonisation — of standards,
ISID, McGill University: Updating the DFIs’ Operating Models to Achieve the UN 2030 SDG Agenda
The UN General Assembly set the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) five years ago. The estimated annual
Evan Harvey, Nasdaq: Medium Is the Message – ESG Delivery and Market Distrust
Despite cultural assumptions surrounding content and interpretation, we tend to believe that the way we communicate
- Energy
Sherzod Khodjhaev, Deputy Minister for Energy, Republic of Uzbekistan: Uzbekistan Gets to Grips with Challenges of Responsible Electric Power Generation
There is something magical about electricity: it has always been present, but its power was only
Alisher Sultanov, Energy Minister of the Republic of Uzbekistan: There Must Be Conservation and Cooling in Uzbekistan
Driving from the airport to Uzbekistan’s ancient city of Bukhara, visitors can see a series of
UAE Backs China’s One Belt One Road Initiative at Annual Investment Meeting
His Excellency Abdulla Al Saleh, Undersecretary for Foreign Trade Ministry of Economy UAE stated,“ Trade activities
- Innovation & Technology
Ventum Dynamics: Clean, Renewable Energy to Anyone, Anywhere
CFI.co’s Chairman Tor Svensson’s exclusive interview with Wolfgang Krohn, the CEO of Ventum Dynamics – the
Heidelberg University (CSI) on Financial Innovation: Unleashing Full Potential of Impact Investing
Many relevant fields and geographic areas are blank spots on the impact investing landscape, because they
Ayah Bdeir: Innovation, Invention from Mouths and Hands of Babes
Get them while they’re young and make it fun, says littleBits founder Ayah Bdeir, and we
- Governance & Legal
PwC Africa: Africa’s Finance Leaders Take Steps to Ensure the Safety of Workers
As lockdown regulations are eased all over the world, business leaders are recognising that they have
How Will the Pandemic Impact Pay Equity Within the Finance Industry?
The financial services industry is at a turning point. Though there is evidence to suggest that
United Nations Leadership Launches Initiative Against Unregulated Small Arms Circulation
“The United Nations has sought to tackle the widespread availability of illicit small arms and ammunition
- CSR
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- PerspectivesEssays & Columns
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- Multilaterals
World Bank on COVID-19: The Road Back Must Be Green, Resilient, and Inclusive
By Axel van Trotsenburg World Bank Managing Director of Operations COVID-19 has imposed a deeper, more
Geoffrey Okamoto, First Deputy Managing Director of the IMF: Knightmare Uncertainty
The American economist Frank Knight theorised about the difference between risk and uncertainty in his classic
World Bank’s Vice President for Infrastructure: Now is the Time to Rethink Transport and Logistics
Covid-19 has had a huge impact on transport. The response to the pandemic, from social distancing
- Columnists
Lord Waverley: A New Chapter for the UK and a Meeting Place for the World
With the EU agreement now in place, the United Kingdom has the chance to develop a
The Two Sides of Capital Flows into Brazil
There was a significant inflow of funds in Brazil’s external financial account in October and November
Lord Waverley on Development Banks – By Name and By Nature: A Boon in Troubled Times
Development Finance Institutions (DFI), Development Finance Companies (DFC) or Development Banks (DB) are institutions that provide
- Lifestyle
How the Super-rich Will Be Spending Their Money as Wealth Trends Fluctuate
As part of its upcoming 2020 Global Wealth Migration Review, New World Wealth examines the potential
Stacey Ferreira: The Billion Dollar Pitch
Few people make their first million before they turn twenty, and fewer still can say they
Maserati on Value Creation: Trident Badge and a Heady Rumble Mean Business, On the Road and In the Showroom
How many syllables would you like with your supercar? One? Porsche will do nicely. Two? Bentley,
- Multilaterals
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- PeopleHeroes & Leaders
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- Heroes
Dr Chitwan Malhotra: Healthcare Hands Meet Across the Waters in Push for Rebuild
The global pandemic has exposed the flaws and inequalities of the world’s healthcare systems. But doctor
Dame Helena Morrissey: Women Rising to the Top and Helping Business to Flourish
Dame Helena Morrissey understands how isolating and intimidating it can be for women in the male-dominated
Rosabeth Moss Kanter: A Glowing Academic Career that Defies Attempts at Abbreviation
The problem of profiling Rosabeth Moss Kanter, holder of the Ernest L Arbuckle Professorship at Harvard
- Editor’s Ten
Cristina Junqueira, Nubank Co-Founder: Brazil’s Wonder Woman of Fintech
When the first Nubank card transaction was made in Brazil on April 1, 2014, you wouldn’t
Hadiyah Mujhid, CEO and founder of HBCU.vc: George Floyd’s Death Brought in Flood of VC Offers for Black Founders in US
Hadiyah Mujhid is CEO and founder of HBCU.vc, a not-for-profit organisation that helps African American and
Ambareen Musa, Founder & CEO of Souqalmal: From Mauritius with Love for Fintech, and lots of Ambition
Ambareen Musa, founder and CEO of financial aggregator marketplace Souqalmal, sees a glowing future for fintech
- Corporate Leaders
Pavilion Global Markets: Global Recognition in Two Niche Services, Transition Management and Global Portfolio Strategy
Pavilion Global Markets Ltd was founded in Canada more than 50 years ago as an institutional,
A New Era for Kuwait International Bank: Architecting the Future of Technology-based Banking
Digital renaissance in the global banking sector was well underway prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. In
Multiply Marketing Consultancy with Samia Bouazza at the Helm: Always Prepared, Armed with the Latest Tech, Determined to Be the Best
“Abu Dhabi residents. International specialists. Critical thinkers. Problem solvers. Marketing connoisseurs. Trained to get straight to
- Portraits
PwC Nigeria: Nigeria’s Finance Act Gets a Facelift to Attract Business and Investment
Earlier this year, Nigerian president Muhammadu Buhari signed the Finance Bill 2019 into law as the
Natarajan Chandrasekaran: Ensuring Tata Group’s Future
India’s largest business by revenue, Tata Group comprises no less than 289 businesses that together have
Marc Langenbrinck, Mercedes-Benz Schweiz CEO: Finding and Keeping the Exact Right Competitive Angle
Mercedes-Benz is enjoying a great run. Its cars have set new sales records in Switzerland, Spain,
- Obituaries
Obituary: Stephen Hawking (1942-2018)
The word battle used in connection with any ailment is an odd euphemism, but particularly so
Fidel Castro: An Antagonist Remembered
The last Marxist-Leninist to hold a place on the world stage has left, signalling the end
Zaha Hadid (1950-2016): “I Don’t Design Nice Buildings”
Zaha Hadid orphaned this world on March 31 and left it waiting for great works that
- Heroes
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- LiteratureBook Reviews
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- Reviews
Book Review: The Ride of a Lifetime by Robert Iger – Iger’s Wild Ride to the Top of ‘the Happiest Place on Earth’
Back in 2005, Robert Iger’s 31-year journey at Disney and ABC looked like it could come
Customer Commandments and Importance of the ‘R’ in CSR: Ignore this at your Peril
The Ethical Business Book by Sarah Duncan Reviewed by John Foot Sarah Duncan is to be
Atlas Shrugged Meets Mad Max: Billionaires Heading for the Hills
The lone Trump supporter amongst the billionaires of Silicon Valley, venture capitalist and angel investor Peter
- Must-Reads
Political Order and Political Decay: From the Industrial Revolution to the Globalization of Democracy
“When the middle class constitutes only 20–30 percent of the population, it may side with antidemocratic
Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945
CFI Must-Reads Title Postwar: A History of Europe Since 1945 Author Tony Judt ISBN 978-0-1430-3775-0 link
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance: An Inquiry into Values
“The real purpose of the scientific method is to make sure nature hasn’t misled you into
- The Editor’s List
The Kandy-Kolored Tangerine-Flake Streamline Baby
“He sounded like Jean-François Revel, a French socialist writer who talks about one of the great
The Gonzo Papers Anthology
“Absolute truth is a very rare and dangerous commodity in the context of professional journalism.” For
The Grapes of Wrath
“Man, unlike any other thing organic or inorganic in the universe, grows beyond his work, walks
- Reviews
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- In-DepthExtended Coverage
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- Hidden Gems
Chile Minister of Economy, Development, and Tourism José Ramón Valente: Escaping the Middle-Income Trap
Early in November, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) paid homage to Chile’s economic resilience and progress.
President Armen Sarkissian: Quantum Politics Defined, Explained, and Considered
Armenia is ready for its time in the spotlight. The landlocked country experienced a watershed moment
President of Montenegro Milo Đukanović: Visions of Europe by Its Best Pupil
Last September, the European Union launched its own Belt and Road Initiative, connecting Europe with Asia.
- Business in Times of Corona
Uzbekistan ‘s Enter Engineering announces Covid years project updates and operations guidance
According to Ulugbek Usmanov, General Director at Enter Engineering: “Enter Engineering is involved in a variety
Boost R&D to Ensure Sustainable Post-Covid Recovery: Economists
Increased investment in research and development is crucial to post-pandemic recovery, say economists calling for lasting
Employers Need to ‘Catch Up’ with Looming Covid Mental Health Crisis
When it comes to workplace wellbeing, there has been a polarised response to the pandemic. A
- World Economic Forum
Davos: Seizing the Moment – Or Not
The man himself was unable to attend the proceedings in Davos – he has other commitments,
WEF: Back to the Basics?
Concerned over widening geopolitical fissures, the World Economic Forum (WEF) has embarked on a quest to
Davos: Till We Meet Again – Bankers Packing Up
Dutch Finance Minister and President of the Eurogroup Jeroen Dijsselbloem is worried that the increased insularity
- Special Features
António Guterres: SDG Champion
“The global coronavirus pandemic, which has already caused unimaginable devastation and hardship, has brought our way
Q&A with IBM’s Bashar Kilani: Need for New Skills Emerging as We Re-Imagine and Transition to the New Normal
Bashar Kilani oversees IBM business in the Gulf countries and the Levant, working with clients and
Smart City Prince: A Prince with a Mission, a Vision
For anyone familiar with the dashing Crown Prince of Dubai, it would have come as no
- Hidden Gems
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- AwardsExcellence
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- Awards
UAE is Recognised by CFI.co as Best FDI Destination in the Middle EastFollowing presentation of the Annual Investment Meeting (AIM) Awards for FDI-agencies at a Gala Dinner at
British Airways: Best Premium Travel Experience GlobalUnveiling a major investment drive to upgrade its long-haul business and premium economy class services, British
UBS: Best Green Bank SwitzerlandAn increasing number of businesses, including banks, are adapting their corporate structures and processes to incorporate
- Africa
Schlumberger Nigeria: Best Sustainability AwardIn over forty countries, oilfield services company Schlumberger is actively engaged in promoting science, technology, engineering,
The CFI.co Award for Best HSE Standards, West Africa, goes to Mobil Oil Nigeria PlcMobil Oil Nigeria Plc traces its proud history back to 1907. This top petroleum products marketing
Old Mutual: Best Community Engagement Programme, South AfricaResponsibility is at the heart of Old Mutual’s success over the past 165 years and the
- Asia Pacific
Best Commercial Bank, China: CFI.co names China MerchantsChina Merchants Bank, headquartered in Shenzen and boasting 500 branches, is the CFI.co 2014 winner of
Colombo Stock Exchange: Most Sustainable Growth Exchange AsiaWith investor confidence solid and a booming economy, the Colombo Stock Exchange (CSE) is in a
A Touch of Class: Century Properties Group Wins Real Estate Award in the PhilippinesWith a passion for quality in both service and product plus an uncannily keen sense for
- Europe
Julius Bär Group: Best Private Bank SwitzerlandManaging the assets of private clients across the globe, Julius Bär Group maintains offices in over
UBS: Best Green Bank SwitzerlandPicture a world in which large power plants spewing noxious fumes into the atmosphere have been
Nordea Asset Management: ESG Award Winner in EuropeAccording to the CFI.co Judging Panel, ‘Nordea well understands the benefits that accrue to investors when
- Latin America
BCI: Our Fund Manager Winner in ChileThe CFI.co Judging Panel rates BCI Investment Management very highly and has announced that the award
Bolsa de Valores de Colombia: Best Stock Exchange, Latin AmericaThe Bolsa de Valores de Colombia (BVC) – a private organisation – was established in 2001
The Odebrecht Foundation Wins CFI Award for Community Engagement, BrazilThe Odebrecht Organisation is a very successful and highly diversified Brazilian group which is active in
- North America
Mercury Capital Advisors Group Best Fund Raising Team Global
Mercury Capital Advisors Group have perfected flat management within the company, creating a team where everyone takes
Banco Interacciones: Our Winner in Mexico for a Second Year
The CFI Judging Panel would like to congratulate Banco Interacciones on repeating its triumph of last
BNY Mellon: Winner of the CFI.co Wealth Manager Award, US
The CFI.co Judging Panel has named BNY Mellon as winner of the prestigious award, ’Best Wealth
- Middle East
Saudi Hollandi: Best SME Bank, KSA, for a Second YearThe CFI.co Judging Panel is always delighted when winners repeat their success in subsequent years. It
Bentley Powers Ahead in Customer Satisfaction: CFI.co Award Winner, Middle EastThere has been powerful performance at Bentley Motors, Middle East this past year. Dubai is the
UBP Wins the CFI.co Private Banking Award, UAENow that many of the global universal banks are returning to their core business and divesting
- Awards
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- InitiativesCorporate & Events
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- Events
2020 UNCTAD World Investment Forum: More Important Than Ever in an Age of Worrying Trends
In December this year, Abu Dhabi will welcome government leaders, CEOs and investment stakeholders for the
Jury for AIM IPA Awards Receives Recognition
The esteemed jury members for the AIM 2018’s Investment Promotion Agency (IPA) awards receives recognition for
Davos: Seizing the Moment – Or Not
The man himself was unable to attend the proceedings in Davos – he has other commitments,
- Projects
Q&A with Chairman of Eriell Group and Enter Engineering: Bakhtiyor Fazilov
Please, tell us a little about yourself. How did you reach your current position? As you
World Bank Group Unveils New Initiatives in Investment Policy and Promotion
For many developing countries, foreign direct investment (FDI) has become the largest source of external finance,
The Local Climate Adaptive Living Facility (LoCAL) of UNCDF: Climate Change Impacts on Natural and Human Systems
“For women, the road was crucial. It was hard to deliver babies because of access: we
- Start-Ups
Ambareen Musa, Founder & CEO of Souqalmal: From Mauritius with Love for Fintech, and lots of Ambition
Ambareen Musa, founder and CEO of financial aggregator marketplace Souqalmal, sees a glowing future for fintech
Ann Low, US Department of State: Go Green by 2019 – Make Business Registration Easy Everywhere by 2019
The “Go Green by 2019” campaign is designed to promote transparent and user-friendly business registration processes
Stacey Ferreira: The Billion Dollar Pitch
Few people make their first million before they turn twenty, and fewer still can say they
- Corporate
Shishir Poddar & Tirupati Graphite: Sustainability is the Buzz Word
Increasingly, investors want their cash to have a real impact on efforts to combat climate change;
Chaiwat Kovavisarach – Green Values Take Bangchak From Refinery to Icon Status
Chaiwat Kovavisarach, president and chief executive officer of Thailand’s Bangchak Corporation, is a man on a
Inter Seguros: We Need to Talk about Insurance, Brazil
A silent revolution is helping thousands of Brazilian families to plan and take care of the
- Events
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