April-May 2015

Cover story: Capital cartography

The European Commission wants to redraw the map for the union’s finance markets. Some parties in Central and Eastern Europe are worried they’re being left out. Tim Burke reports.

In Profile: Adrian Gardner

There is real need for consumer credit, especially in regions such as CEE, where the risk appetite of banks is lower and fewer people have a credit history. Valued at around £1.1bn (US$1.7bn), London-listed consumer lending company International Personal Finance (IPF) has a growing presence in these markets and an appetite for further expansion.

Georgia: Trading up

Georgia has launched pension reforms, and is looking to develop a local currency debt market, all in an effort to develop the country's capital markets, EMEA Finance reports on the progress of these efforts.

Turkey: Closer to the action

The EBRD has only been active in Turkey since 2008, but the country was the largest recipient of its funds last year. What does that say about Turkey’s needs from international finance institutions and the services they can provide?

Qatar: Bankers in hard hats

In a market where space limits scale, local firms have needed to be ambitious and smart about how and where they work. Qatar is the smallest country in the Gulf Cooperation Council by area and population after Bahrain. Banks and companies alike have grown accustomed to looking beyond the borders and offshore for business. For newer banks like Barwa that’s meant pushing to win work on international deals such as the UK sukuk.

Cote d’Ivoire: After the gold rush

Since the conclusion of the political and economic crisis in 2010, Cote d’Ivoire has flourished in the debt market, more so even than other Sub-Saharan African countries that have benefitted from the hunt for yield. EMEA Finance examines the prospects for the country going forward.