East asia pacific south asia

BSP Holds Digital Payments Leaders Summit as the Country Moves Closer to a Cash-lite Economy

bKash: Revolutionizing Mobile Financial Services in Bangladesh?

This study discusses the emergence of bKash as the m-banking pioneer in Bangladesh. It focuses on the services provided by bKash and its current operating scenario in Bangladesh. bKash’s str…

Bridging the Digital Divide and Supporting Increased Digital Trade: Scoping Study

The global economy is experiencing important technological shifts, with the rise of digital technology a key driver. This can be seen today in the rapid growth of the digital economy, broadl…

Governments can use digital financial technologies to fight corruption

Bringing E-money to the Poor: Successes and Failures

This report examines the successful lessons from Kenya, South Africa, Sri Lanka, and Thailand case studies of “gazelles", that leapt from limitation to innovation by successfully enabling the deployment of e-money technology.

China Breakthroughs: Pay it forward on cashless society

China cashing out as mobile payment soars (The Business Times)

China cashing out as mobile payment soars (AFP)

Accelerating Financial Inclusion in South-East Asia with Digital Finance

Focussing on women, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), the paper highlights that digital financial solutions could play a significant part in closing gaps in financial inclusion and povides insights from Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar.

Alipay, WeChat Near $3 Trillion

Country Diagnostic: Bangladesh

This Diagnostic Report shows Bangladesh is making significant strides toward a digital economy, and outlines specific policy measures that can underpin further digitization of payments into the future.

Introducing GSM-enabled PAYG Solar in Cambodia

The report tracks the implementation of a Cambodian company Kamwork’s pay-as-you-go (PAYG) solar home systems (SHSs) with GSM-based machine-to- machine (M2M) connectivity to validate the business model and determine what level of support from GSM network coverage.

Can electronic tax invoicing improve tax compliance?

This paper defines Republic of Korea’s motivation for Electronic Tax Invoicing (ETI), the implementation process, the legal and regulatory regimes, lessons learned, and future challenges for tax policy makers and tax authorities in developing countries.

Mobile Financial Services In Bangladesh

The report provides an overview of the MFS progress in Bangladesh and discusses how selection of staff and beneficiaries from USAID agriculture and health projects are using both traditional and mobile financial services.

Inclusive Growth Through Branchless Banking: A Review of Agent Banking and Its Impact

The paper explores the opportunities to overcome barriers to financial access in Bangladesh through branchless banking and emphasis that financial inclusion and inclusive growth could be advanced through existing work by Bangladesh bank on favorable agent banking policies

India Announces New Partnership to Accelerate Financial Inclusion for Everyone

Government of India joins the United Nations’ Better Than Cash Alliance to share success stories from the world’s largest financial inclusion programme…

In line with strategy to mature into an emerging economy, Nepal joins the Better Than Cash Alliance

Government aims for economic growth and women’s empowerment through digital payments initiative…

Government of Afghanistan Joins Better Than Cash Alliance

Government of Afghanistan Joins Better Than Cash Alliance — Pledges to Address Poverty and Grow Economy by Shifting to Electronic Payments…

Aadhaar: Digital Inclusion and Public Services in India

Aadhaar, India’s program to provide a unique identity number for every resident, is the largest biometric identification program in the world. Launched in 2008, the program has created biome…