Asia pacific

Digital bridge for Asia’s gender gap

IFC: Women and e-commerce in Southeast Asia

This report from IFC, the 1st large-scale use of platform data in the region, shows that growth could be higher with greater investment in women entrepreneurs.

The platform economy: Southeast Asia’s digital growth catalyst

This inaugural study from the Tech for Good Institute presents data-based insights and public-private perspectives on how to support the platform economy’s growth in Southeast Asia while mitigating its risks.

In South-East Asia, Grab and Gojek bring banking to the masses

Why should retailers shift to digital payments? An average digital payments user of Grab, a ride-hailing service, makes twice as many transactions than those who use cash and is 30% more lik…

The Role of Digital Payments in Sustainable Agriculture and Food Security

Finance Ministers of the economies of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) endorsed the new Better Than Cash Alliance report on the role of digital payments in sustainable agriculture on 21st October, in Viet Nam.

Truly mobile money – ride-sharing and mobile payments in South and Southeast Asia

Transportation Series: Blog 4…

Strategies for fintechs in the Pacific 

New IMF paper outlines policy strategies to help promote financial inclusion through fintechs in the Pacific Island countries. It calls on governments to close regulatory gaps and enhance digital and financial literacy while urging fintechs to take a regional approach to overcome scalability constraints.

The next frontier in Asia payments

Despite the near-term disruption to revenue growth related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Asia’s payments sector remains positioned for long-term success and is poised for a swift return to healthy growth.

Southeast Asia internet economy hits $100 billion

The Bain & Company report shows that two Alliance members, Indonesia and Vietnam, are growing the fastest and the adoption of digital payments in the region is expected to cross $1 trillion by 2025.

Mobile money spreads in Asia

Over the past five years, mobile money has gained traction in South Asia, which is experiencing an average annual growth rate of 46 percent in mobile money accounts—the highest across all regions. For more details check out IMF’s 2019 Financial Access Survey that was released last week

The mobile gender gap: Asia

The top barriers to mobile ownership in Asia are literacy and skills and affordability, with family disapproval also featuring as a major barrier in parts of South Asia.

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.

Governance of Social Protection for Informal Sector Workers in Asia

This report covers overview and constraints of setting up a social protection system for informal workers in Asia. It also includes interesting case studies of some Asian countries including Bangladesh, the People’s Republic of China (PRC), Indonesia, Pakistan, and the Philippines.

Mobile Banking for Empowerment Muslim Women Entrepreneur: Evidence from Asia (Indonesia and Bangladesh)

Through an extensive literature review, the paper provides evidence about role of mobile banking as well as branchless banking is significant for women entrepreneur’s empowerment, especially for financially including them.

Papua New Guinea commits to digitizing all government payments

PNG’s Ministries of Finance and Treasury endorse Better Than Cash Alliance membership

Two challenges to help two billion reach financial security

Reposted from the original Gates Foundation blog on Impatient Optimists. Until recently, achieving financial inclusion for the world’s unbanked poor was a pressing goal with perplexing obstacles.

Our work in India

Read about India’s transformational journey to scale responsible digital payments

LEARNING SERIES >> What will it take for small merchants to embrace digital payments?

Small merchants exert a big influence on the global economy.

Distributed Ledger Technology and Digital Identity: Prospects and Pitfalls Ahead

Blockchain Series: Blog 4

In Bangladesh, key public and private sector actors commit to scaling digital wages across garment sector

Dhaka, November 20, 2019 - Media release by Government of Bangladesh: Building on what has been achieved so far, the government and the private sector have committed to working together to…