Issue 118 touches on regional financial integration, and outlines the related challenges and opportunities that accompany such scenarios. Asia is an especially tough region to carry out such a task as financial systems, infrastructure and regulations greatly differ across the board. However integration can create an open market for participants to grow and compete, despite the omnipresent challenge of creating a level playing field that is fair to all players.

In relation to this, this issue interviews senior bankers across the region on topics that are vital to regional financial integration, including key economic trends, challenges and opportunities specific to an ASEAN integration scenario, risk and supply chain issues as well as using big data and innovation efficiently to create value.

The issue also features thoughts on the renminbi’s future, and in separate interviews, the current vice president and present chairman of FDIC express their reservations of safety nets in financial systems, and underline the importance of regulatory overhauls.

Issue 118 comprises:

• The Asian Banker Summit 2013 special report on regional financial integration
  • Key trends in economic and data flow
  • ASEAN financial integration
  • Managing risks and systems architecture
  • Defining financial supply chain and financing supply chain today
  • Big data: unlocking the door to a new era
  • Innovative culture with new strategies in channels and distribution  
• ADB on the renminbi: regionalisation followed by internationalisation
• FDIC warns of the potential dangers of safety nets in financial systems, and stresses on the importance of regulatory reforms
• Measuring the progress made in the implementation of the AEC