Press Digest

June 28, 2011 I Issue No. 51
Press Digest
 English-Language Press 
Rwanda: SMEs Get Rwf7.8 Billion Stimulus Cash
TMCnet; June 27, 2011
Rwanda Development Bank (BRD) announced a guarantee package to rescue Small
and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which are increasingly desperate for more financing
alternatives.
Nigeria: Enforcement of Compulsory Insurance Begins September
This Day; June 26, 2011
Driven by its resolve to deepen insurance penetration and raise the level of
industry's gross premium income, the National Insurance Commission, will
commence enforcement of its compulsory insurance policy by September.
Angola: Associated Peasants Get Agricultural Credit in Bié
Agência Angola Press; June 25, 2011
Peasants of associations and cooperative in Epongolokó locality in the central Bié
province benefited this year from agricultural credit, aimed at increasing their
production.
Kenya: Banks Given Free Hand in SME Fund
The Star; June 25, 2011
The fate of small business owners hoping to access credit from the Micro and Small
Enterprises Fund now lies entirely on commercial banks. The government has left it
to the three selected banks, Co-operative Bank of Kenya, K-Rep Bank and Equity
Bank, to choose what interests rates to charge on loans and procedures to be used
while lending.
Weekly Press Digest
June 28, 2011 I Issue No. 51
Nigeria: Efina Tasks Retail Banking
Vanguard; June 25, 2011
Enhancing Financial Innovation & Access (EfinA), a financial sector development
organization that promotes financial inclusion in Nigeria, has concluded its first
breakfast on retail banking strategy in Nigeria
Zimbabwe: Banks Still Shun Rural Areas - RBZ
The Herald; June 24, 2011
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe says commercial banks continue to shun rural areas,
preferring urban areas. This had constrained efforts to bring the poor and
marginalised into the mainstream economy, said a key RBZ official this week.
Kenya: Loans Could Get More Costly as Banks Raise Their Lending Rates
Daily Nation; June 24, 2011
A second bank has increased its lending rates in what signals that the country is
headed for expensive loans, as lenders adjust their base rates to safeguard profit
margins.
Zimbabwe: IPEC Finalises Disclosure Terms for Insurers
The Financial Gazette; June 24, 2011
The Insurance and Pensions Commission (IPEC) is finalising new disclosure terms for
the insurance industry, part of new prudential regulation and surveillance measures,
which also include raising prescribed paid-up minimum capital and weeding out
technically insolvent operators.
West Africa to Integrate Banking System
Daily Trust; June 23, 2011
Plans are underway to integrate banking systems of Ghana, Nigeria and French
speaking West African countries. When the project comes fully on stream, it will
enhance interoperability between the systems of all banks in the sub-region.
Rwanda: Top Bank Issues IPO
The Citizen; June 23, 2011
The Bank of Kigali, majority-owned by the Rwanda government, is to issue an initial
public offering (IPO) for 45 per cent of the current share-holding. The IPO is expected
to commence sales next Thursday and will be open to foreign investors.
Uganda: Standard Bank in Move to Counter Mobile Money
The Monitor; June 23, 2011
The advent of mobile money has transformed telecom companies into financial
institutions. The platform that allows people to use their mobile phones to transfer
money, pay for goods and services and conduct banking services has seen telecoms
eat into commercial banks' market share.
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Weekly Press Digest
June 28, 2011 I Issue No. 51
E-banking Comes of Age in Tanzania
Daily News; June 22, 2011
E-banking in Tanzania has made a number of in roads, although the transactions are
still cash-intensive. Citibank, Bank M and Standard Chartered are among the
pioneers of e-banking, especially in paying taxes. The three banks use AsyBank
system, which is a customs payment scheme that reads Tanzania Revenue Authority
(TRA) commissioner’s general taxpaying account.
 Revue de Presse Francophone 
Gabon: Les dépôts de la clientèle dans les banques sont en hausse de 19,90 %
Infoplus Gabon; 26 juin 2011
Le ministre gabonais de l'Economie et des Finances, Magloire Ngambia, a
récemment annoncé la hausse du volume d'affaires des banques de 11,3% au cours
du premier trimestre 2011. Les dépôts de la clientèle ont également accru de 19,90%
au cours du premier trimestre 2011 dans les neuf principales banques.
Algérie: Les banques seront notées à partir de juillet prochain
La Tribune; 25 juin 2011
Du nouveau pour le contrôle et la supervision du système bancaire national.
Désormais, les banques seront notées. En effet, la Banque d'Algérie (BA) se dotera à
partir du second semestre 2011 d'un système de notation de banques. L'objectif :
préserver la stabilité du système financier. C'est ce qu'a annoncé jeudi dernier le
gouverneur de la Banque d'Algérie, Mohamed Laksaci, repris par l'APS lors d'une
journée technique destinée aux inspecteurs de la BA.
Hausse des dépôts bancaires du Zimbabwe en 2011, selon la BAD
Afrique Avenir; 25 juin 2011
Les dépôts bancaires du Zimbabwe ont connu une hausse avoisinant les 50 pour cent
cette année qui s’explique par le fait que l’économie de ce pays de l’Afrique australe
se remet peu à peu d’une décennie de récession économique, a indiqué vendredi un
nouveau rapport de la Banque africaine de développement (BAD).
Afrique de l’Ouest : Une directive pour inciter les entreprises d’investissement à
capital fixe
Les Afriques; 24 juin 2011
Face à la faiblesse des financements bancaires en faveur des petites et moyennes
entreprises ou industries (PME/PMI), la Commission de l’UEMOA et la BCEAO
travaillent à favoriser l’émergence de moyens alternatifs.
En Afrique, le téléphone portable révolutionne la banque
Slate Afrique; 23 juin 2011
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Weekly Press Digest
June 28, 2011 I Issue No. 51
Le paiement par mobile, qui a été un échec cuisant en Occident, est un énorme hit
en Afrique. Comment l'expliquer? L’aspect simple et pratique participe au succès de
ce mode de paiement sur le continent noir. La seule formalité pour ouvrir un compte
est de s’enregistrer auprès d’un agent assermenté
Angola: Le Crédit agricole améliore la vie à la campagne
Agência Angola Press; 22 juin 2011
La concession de crédit agricole à la campagne est en train de contribuer à
l'amélioration des conditions de vie des agriculteurs et à l'augmentation du revenu
des familles au milieu rural.
For more news on African financial sectors please click here.
Pour plus d’actualités sur la finance en Afrique veuillez cliquer ici.
Compiled by:
Alessandro Girola I Research Officer I [email protected] (English-language press)
Olivier Vidal
I Research Assistant I [email protected] (French-language press)
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