Ghana: Economic Snapshot 2024
Click here to read our Ghana Economic Report and Investment Analysis 2024 online …
Global markets increasingly issuing green and social bondsOBGplus
In 2022 significant political efforts propelled the energy transition, leading to a record-breaking year in green finance. Governments, international institutions and lenders actively backed the shift to renewables. In tandem, projections indicated that renewable energy capacity would reach a record 440 GW in 2023. Notably, green bond issuance reached $351bn in the first half of the year. This marks…
Financial technology players expanding in emerging marketsOBGplus
Financial technology (fintech) firms are gaining market share that was formerly the preserve of established remittance service providers. Remittances have grown in importance in recent decades and now constitute the largest source of foreign income for many developing economies. They also tend to be countercyclical, increasing during economic downturns or natural disasters when other capital flows…
Emerging markets align with international accounting standardsOBGplus
Insurance companies worldwide have been preparing for the most significant change in global accounting standards in almost two decades. On January 1, 2023 the International Financial Reporting Standard (IFRS) 17 came into effect. Replacing the previous standard, IFRS 4, which was issued in 2004, IFRS 17 aims to standardise insurance accounting globally through a uniform approach in order to improve…
Clean energy demand and production increase amid transition away from hydrocarbonsOBGplus
The energy transition continued apace in 2022 despite Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February of that year, ongoing disruptions to supply chains and inflationary pressures – all of which translated into high energy prices around the globe. However, sustained high prices may mark an inflexion point in shifting the global energy system away from a dependence on hydrocarbons and towards lower-cost…
Regenerative farming to help mitigate climate change and create jobsOBGplus
In light of the Covid-19 pandemic, supply chain disruptions and broader environmental concerns, many countries are looking to improve the efficiency of agriculture while reducing their carbon footprint. Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which curtailed exports of maize, wheat and cooking oil from two of the world’s key producers, has given this more impetus and raised broader concerns about global…
Competition for buy now, pay later in emerging marketsOBGplus
Building on the momentum seen in the e-commerce space during the Covid-19 pandemic, the “buy now, pay later” (BNPL) model is one of the fastest-growing segments in consumer finance, particularly in emerging markets. BNPL providers offer point-of-sale loans that consumers can repay in instalments over the course of weeks or even months. Charging little to no interest, these microcredit providers…
Global efforts ongoing to counter rise in cyberthreatsOBGplus
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 caused disruptions across the global economy, from food to energy, and prompted an increase in the number and sophistication of cyberattacks – exacerbating a similar impact from the Covid-19 pandemic. According to a poll of over 800 chief audit executives conducted by the UK-based Chartered Institute of Internal Auditors, 77% of respondents thought…
Carbon-neutral building and innovation in emerging marketsOBGplus
As the construction industry redefines its priorities to ensure sustainability, there is increasing recognition of the benefits of regenerative architecture as a means of lowering emissions. According to the “2019 Global Status Report for Buildings and Construction” published by the International Energy Agency, the construction sector accounts for nearly 40% of global energy-related greenhouse…
Emerging markets target tourism development and diversificationOBGplus
As emerging markets develop new attractions and tap into new visitor source markets, they are leveraging technology and sustainable development in line with emissions targets. Following sharp declines in 2020, international tourism figures rebounded in 2021 to reach approximately 63% of pre-Covid-19 pandemic levels in 2022. Notably, in September of that year arrivals in the Middle East and the Caribbean…
