This press release announces that the International Finance Corporation has signed agreements to invest up to 9 million dollars in a 28-megawatt cogeneration power project being developed by Astha Power...
Cashews are Côte d’Ivoire’s second most important export commodity after cocoa, and a crucial source of cash for smallholders and processors in the poorer north of the country. From 380,000 tons in 2010...
Of the 37 million inhabitants of Uzbekistan, 49 percent lived in rural areas in 2024 - and the rural population is growing faster than the urban population. Agriculture is a key economic sector, accounting...
Kenya faces a growing youth employment challenge, with nearly 80 percent of its population under 35 working in informal, low-quality jobs that offer little security or opportunity for advancement. About...
The tourism and hospitality sector are a key driver of Sub-Saharan Africa’s economic growth, and a major source of foreign reserves and jobs: the sector has the potential to add 168 billion dollars in...
The Caribbean region faces a growing youth employment challenge, as outdated infrastructure and limited digital skills continue to constrain economic opportunities and resilience. For much of the last...
While the Philippines has been one of the most dynamic economies in the East Asia and Pacific (EAP) region, with gross national income (GNI) per capita more than tripling, and poverty declining sharply...
Brazil has committed to a 43 percent reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions between 2005 and 2030 - mainly through increasing the share of sustainable biofuels and clean energy in the energy mix...
In low-income countries, formal health systems are stretched thin, and rural and underserved areas often lack adequate primary healthcare coverage, delaying essential interventions and leaving populations...
Economic growth and job creation remain key challenges for Jordan, where the economy has only grown by an annual average of 2.5 percent over the past decade. Unemployment is persistently high (22.3 percent...
Generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI) is set to potentially transform the labor market, presenting both opportunities and challenges. Studies about its possible impacts have generally focused on...
From 2001 to 2012, Indonesia enjoyed strong economic growth, averaging 5.6 percent per annum, while the poverty rate halved to 11 percent. The employment rate reached a two-decade record high in 2019...
Kazakhstan holds a strategic position between China, Europe, and the Middle East, but has historically been underutilized as an economic and transit bridge because of poor connectivity across the country...
Bangladesh’s informal sector accounts for up to 85 percent of employment and is characterized by low productivity and low wages. Youth in particular face significant challenges to accessing economic opportunity...
On December 18, 2024, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Board of Governors adopted resolution number two hundred and eighty-three. It was resolved that: (i) the transfer of the Corporation’s FY24...
Emerging markets have long been viewed as high-risk destinations for investment, particularly investments in companies. Although macroeconomic and political stability risks are higher, this perception...
This International Finance Corporation (IFC) Research Note analyzes the cost of borrowing for firms in emerging and developing economies, changes in their debt structure, and indicators of indebtedness...
On October 25, 2024, International Finance Corporation (IFC) Board of Governors adopted resolution number two hundred and eighty-two. It was resolved that the Board of Governors of the Corporation consider...
Card enabled payment service providers (PSPs) exist in Uzbekistan such as CLICK and UPAY. Very few banks have mobile banking application for retail customers. However, some PSPs have web portals and mobile...
The Turkish financial sector is highly advanced. However, stakeholders appear less driven to promote accesfinancis to financial services other than payment services. Currently all major banks and 2 of...