All Countries and All Sectors

November 2019 saw five foreign life insurance companies gain licences to operate fully owned subsidiaries in Myanmar, heralding the start of a new chapter in the industry’s history. At the same time six joint ventures between foreign and local insurers were also licensed, with this, too, set to have a strong impact on the dynamism of the...

With the world digitalising at an increasing rate, the threat of cybercrime has risen dramatically in recent years, and emerging markets are no exception. While the shift towards online platforms – along with the development of the internet of things, smart cities and blockchain technology – is generating significant opportunities for wealth...

Where should insurers look to increase insurance penetration rates in the consumer market?

The pace of reform in Myanmar’s banking sector has been increasing in recent years, with liberalisation taking a major step forwards in November 2019 when the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) announced that foreign banks would be able to get a licence to engage in onshore retail through a subsidiary or joint venture from 2021. These steps follow...

The banks of Asia Pacific have been subject to successive waves of regulatory changes in recent years. Remaining compliant with strengthened anti-money laundering rules, know-your-customer guidelines and a raft of sustainability and transparency initiatives proved to be a resource-consuming process for the region’s lending institutions.

Mobile banking has been a key factor in the recent improvement of Myanmar’s financial inclusion rates. Following the liberalisation of the telecoms industry in 2014, the country has seen a surge in mobile phone ownership, partly as a result of cheaper data and better network competition, making it an effective channel for financial services...