Posts Tagged ‘IFC’

By Naagesh Naaraayana Microfinance Focus, Oct. 7, 2009: Chennai-based Belstar Investment and Finance Pvt. Ltd., the microfinance arm of the Hand in Hand (HIH) group, plans to raise equity capital of Rs 175 million ($3.6 million) from International Finance Corporation, the investment arm of the World Bank. IFC is considering the proposal along with other investors in the project, which is expected to help transform the NGO ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Oct. 6, 2009: Ecobank, a pan-African bank with a network of over 500 branches in 27 countries, has received IFC's annual Client Leadership Award in recognition of its efforts to reach frontier markets and create greater access to finance in Africa. IFC has given two client awards, one to Ecobank in the financial-sector category, and one to Brazil’s Anhanguera Educacional Participações in the real-sector ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Oct. 5, 2009: A new report on microfinance sponsored by International Finance Corporation has ranked India number four while Peru topped the list among surveyed countries for having the best business conditions for microfinance. This is the second year in a row that Peru tops the charts in the Microscope Index, part of the microfinance report, which also is sponsored by the Multilateral ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Sept. 14, 2009: A new report from IFC and the World Bank shows by focusing on building and reforming credit reporting, collateral registries, and payment and securities systems, more than half the population in emerging markets could have access to financial services  within 10 years and enjoy financial transaction cost reductions of nearly 80 per cent, said an IFC statement. The report, "Financial Infrastructure: Building ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Aug. 27, 2009: International Finance Corporation, an investment arm of the World Bank, has provided $1 billion in new financing to businesses in West and Central Africa in the year ended June 2009, a 58 per cent increase, as part of its commitment in private sector investment and advisory services in the region, said Director for West and Central Africa, Yolande Duhem, ... Full story

Microfinance Focus, Aug. 19, 2009: A two-day forum co-organized by the National Bank of Cambodia, IFC, the European Union, and the Cambodia Microfinance Association, senior microfinanciers, bankers, regulators, and local authorities began discussions on how microfinance institutions could boost the country’s economy, promote financial inclusion, and enhance customer protection. “The microfinance sector in Cambodia has grown fast and significantly contributed to improving access to financial services for the rural population,” said H.E Chea Chanto, Governor of the National Bank of Cambodia. “The success of the sector is vital to ensuring quick financial inclusion. We have adopted legislation that enables microfinance institutions to mobilize public deposits to help them access cheaper sources of funds while allowing rural populations to safely save their hard-earned cash.” Full story