Open atmosphere of the banking businesses in Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam allows for healthy participation by Thai banks
As business opportunities open wider ahead of the launch of the Asean Economic Community (AEC) in 2015, the four less-developed economies, often referred to as CLMV (Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam) are among the most attractive for Thai investors. More…
Myanmar may allow foreign banks to operate next year
YANGON—Myanmar’s government is unlikely to let foreign banks set up full-fledged operations this year, the central bank’s deputy governor said, but it is studying ways to allow them to expand their presence possibly as early as next year. More…
Bangladesh
The other day, I was attending a television talk-show on new banks, along with an esteemed legislator and a business leader. Though the legislator and the business leader did differ on many issues, they seemed to be of the same view about not encouraging any more foreign banks to operate in Bangladesh. They thought our banking sector, especially the local banks, have progressed a lot and more importantly, allowing foreign banks would at this mean allowing more profit to be remitted outside the country. Their principal concern, therefore, was over foreign banks making too much of money and a percentage of that going back to their countries of origin. They, especially the business leader, were not too sure about the ultimate ‘value addition’ by the foreign banks in Bangladesh. More…
