Devashis Das, deputy head of Global Transaction Banking, Asia Oceania at Mizuho Bank discusses the latest financial technologies and the opportunities they create for the banking industry.

Abdul Rahman AlAshraf, founder of FreeCom, shares how his idea of communicating without the use of internet or mobile network came about. He also explains how the prototype works, its potentials and how it will keep people connected during disasters.

In the midst of the US-China trade war, Fudan University Dean of Economics Professor Zhang Jun, provides a clearer picture of what goes on inside the world’s second-largest economy and the factors affecting its growth.

Dimantha Seneviratne, the chief executive of Sri Lanka’s National Development Bank, discusses the challenges that the country has been facing as well as the opportunities he sees for the Sri Lankan economy.

Guy Verhofstadt, former prime minister of Belgium, admits that the European Union is still a weak organisation. And in a future that heralds a “world of empires”, it is necessary for the EU to abandon the unanimity rule and move forward with federalism, which holds the key to the survival of Europe in the modern world. As the chief European Parliament coordinator in the Brexit negotiations, he considers Brexit as a failure of the EU and believes that Europeans are stronger when they work together.

As a pioneer in the Chinese asset management industry with a 20-year history, Harvest Fund is focusing on “ideas” to create sustainable returns for investors, states company chairman Zhao Xuejun

In an interview with The Asian Banker, Bassel Gamal, Qatar Islamic Bank’s group CEO, makes known that the bank is not resting on its laurels after having achieved financial achievements over the years. Rather, it is continuously trying to improve its position by staying competitive and relevant.

Tan Kong Khoon, the president and CEO of Hong Leong Financial Group, shares his views with The Asian Banker regarding the company’s plans for the long term, the challenges facing the financial industry, and providing solutions for customers’ needs.

SWIFT’s Julien Blanchez, Head of Data and Analytics, looks at the central role of data in supporting the move to real-time payments.

Ping An Bank chairman Xie Yonglin talked about the bank’s transformation journey into a leading retail financial services provider, the evolution of the bancassurance business model and his key career milestones and aspirations during his interview with The Asian Banker chairman Emmanuel Daniel

Greg Kidd, the serial startup investor who helped found Square and Twitter and is currently investor in GlobaliD, a opens up in this wide-ranging and open-ended interview about his career in identifying and helping found innovative startups. He shares his insights on the relationship between globalisation and localisation and how these relate to innovation

Veteran banker Jonathan Larsen, who ran Citibank’s global retail bank and mortgages, came out of retirement to head Ping An Group’s chief innovation office. He is now on the lookout for innovative fintech business models that are complementary to Ping An’s core businesses in insurance, banking and investment

Rajnish Kumar, chairman, State Bank of India (SBI) discusses how SBI, as the largest bank in India, will play a crucial role in unlocking the economic potential through financial and technological inclusion

In a candid interview with Emmanuel Daniel, the bank CEO looks back at the company’s transformation, talks about plans for digitalisation and shares the legacy he wants to leave behind

Roeland van Zeijst, global cybersecurity strategist, RovaZ.com and former digital crime officer, Interpol, discussed cybersecurity landscape and the steps taken by regulators and financial institutions to enhance industry resilience, integrity and stability