At Sibos 2024 in Beijing, Mehdi Manaa, CEO of Buna, took centre stage to discuss how the platform is revolutionising cross-border payments in the Arab region and its future impact beyond. Launched by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF) in 2020, Buna is a regional payment platform that facilitates seamless international payments and settlements across multiple currencies. It addresses long-standing challenges in cross-border payments, including inefficiencies, high costs, and complex regulatory landscapes. During the “View from the Top” chat, Manaa shed light on Buna's large-scale transformation, innovation in foreign exchange (FX), and its approach to compliance, all aimed at improving financial integration and economic growth in the region.

On the first day of Sibos 2024 in Beijing, the First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), showcased its commitment to facilitate cross-border transactions between the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and China. Sanjay Sethi, Head of Global Transaction Banking at the bank, asserted, “as the largest bank in the UAE, FAB is committed to supporting trade and financial cooperation between the UAE and China.

Hybrid distribution with physical kiosk, payroll integration and strategic acquisitions drive user engagement and retention for the digital bank in the Philippines.

Buna, launched by the Arab Monetary Fund (AMF), is reshaping cross-border payments by enhancing financial inclusion, reducing inefficiencies, and fostering economic integration.

South Asia and Southeast Asia are poised to dominate fintech lending, driven by unique growth factors and supportive ecosystems.

Kamran Khan, Head of ESG for APAC & MEA at Deutsche Bank, discussed the integration of environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles into the bank’s core banking businesses and financial solutions.

Sashidhar Jagdishan, managing director and CEO of HDFC Bank, received the Bank CEO of the Year in Asia Pacific award for 2024, acknowledging his resilient leadership in driving digital transformation, expanding banking access, and integrating sustainability.

Standard Chartered’s transaction banking leadership shared insights on how the bank is managing the challenges and opportunities posed by digital transformation, sustainability, and regulatory requirements in the evolving financial landscape.

With over two decades of experience in retail banking, Tan has propelled the bank's retail assets to $73 billion, achieving substantial growth and strategic acquisitions across ASEAN markets. TAB Globals International Council of Advisors of the Excellence in Retail Finance awards

As the world shifts towards sustainability, bank CEOs are at the forefront, driving ESG initiatives, overcoming challenges and reaping the benefits from the opportunities.

People’s Bank of China (PBoC) governor Pan Gongsheng announced stimulus policies, including RMB 800 billion ($114 billion) of liquidity support directed at the stock market.

JP Morgan is advancing global settlement by leveraging programmable payments, expanding the use of JPM Coin via its Onyx platform, employing AI to enhance fraud detection and transforming liquidity management for corporate clients, logistics companies, and marketplaces, particularly in Asia Pacific.

Major central banks worldwide are shrinking their balance sheets after pumping liquidity into their economies throughout the worst of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Mario Draghi’s report outlines the challenges facing Europe’s competitiveness and the critical role banks must play in financing essential investments.

Metrobank was voted the Most Recommended Retail Bank in the Philippines for the first time in the history of the BankQuality survey. It achieved a 65% BankQuality Score, surpassing the previous leader by just one point. The bank excelled in key product categories, including personal loans, car loans, and home loans