Middle East
The Belt and Road Initiative 2020 Survey – A more sustainable road to growth?
The third annual Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) survey reveals that central banks view BRI investment as sustainable compared with other forms of external debt, particularly given it is often proportionally less significant. Despite growing global trade…
IMF and Yale provide data on virus responses
IMF site provides information on G20 country responses to virus
UAE, Bahrain and Nambia team up to tackle money laundering
Common framework will help nations share and analyse AML/CFT data
Kuwait’s central bank should relax rate caps – IMF
New legislation will encourage nationwide credit rating system, fund staff say
Emerging markets face growing debt risk – IMF paper
One-third of emerging market debt over-valued as low-income countries set to issue more
IMF draws links between transparency and debt accumulation
Fund praises efforts taken by Tunisia and Uzbekistan, and urges others in the region to improve accountability of fiscal institutions
Four Gulf states cut rates following Fed decision
Bahrain, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE have currencies pegged to US dollar
IMF flags high public debt in Middle East oil exporters
Oil producers in the Mena region are expected to average budget deficits of 4% of GDP in 2019
The IFF China Report 2019
Insight and perspectives from the world's leaders, premier policy-makers and financiers
The IFF China Report 2019: The Bay Area Development
Located at the start of the Maritime Silk Road, the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area seeks to harness advanced technology and green finance to catch up with the economically advanced bay areas of New York, San Francisco and Tokyo.
The IFF China Report 2019: The Belt and Road Initiative
Over the past five years, China has invested more than $70 billion in Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) countries, of which there are now in excess of 100. Leading Chinese and international policy-makers explain how BRI efforts are progressing. This section…
The Belt and Road Initiative 2019 Survey – A new driver for globalisation?
The second Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Survey of 28 central banks reveals that they view the BRI as a major driver of globalisation, with a high percentage of respondents expecting the initiative to provide a significant boost to GDP. So far,…
Bahraini women gain prominence in financial sector
Number of local women employed increases by 2.2% in 2018, central bank data shows
The IFF China Report 2019: New globalisation – The path to the future
Multilateral rules and multilateral bodies will need to be upgraded in the coming years to better represent the shift in economic gravity towards Asia, which has emerged as the largest contributor to global growth during the past decade.
Arab regional payment system set for 2020 launch
The new system would replace the costly and inefficient correspondent bank model
Housing debt increases on the back of reforms – Israel annual report
Bank of Israel documents changes in the mix of credit as reforms look to increase competition in the credit market
Podcast: Bank of Israel’s Flug reflects on her time as governor
Former IMF economist talks about how her love of policy helped her lead Israel’s central bank
Arab countries must improve funding of small businesses – IMF’s Lagarde
SMEs make up 96% of Arab world’s businesses but get only 7% of bank loans – IMF chief
UAE central bank and Sama partner for blockchain project
New system will provide central financial transfer system that aims to make the process of remittance payments more efficient
Bank of Israel to form financial stability committee
Central bank governor will chair committee aimed at co-ordinating regulators
UAE government overhauls central bank law
Move is “significant step” to reinforce central bank’s independence, says governor
Dubai regulator issues ‘innovation testing licenses’ to six fintech firms
Licenses will allow firms to test products with relaxed regulatory requirements
Bank of Israel files first civil lawsuit against counterfeiters
Counterfeiters already convicted of forging “tens of thousands” of the new 200-shekel note; central bank seeking €100,000 in compensation
The IFF China Report 2018: The Belt and Road Initiative
China’s signature Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) now includes 71 countries, with trillions of dollars of investment allocated. Leading Chinese and international policymakers explain how BRI efforts are progressing. This section includes an inaugural…