Publication:
Scaling-up Regional Financial Integration in the East African Community

Loading...
Thumbnail Image
Files in English
English PDF (1.3 MB)
809 downloads
English Text (144.02 KB)
113 downloads
Published
2012-01
ISSN
Date
2013-03-28
Author(s)
Editor(s)
Abstract
This report follows up on a 2007 World Bank study, Financial Sector Integration in Two Regions of Sub-Saharan Africa: How Creating Scale in Financial Markets Can Support Growth and Development (FSITR henceforth) which identified the opportunities associated with regionalization of financial markets in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), and also the many challenges associated with realizing the potential of such arrangements. This effort furthers and updates the analysis of the EAC in FSITR by focusing on two aspects of trade in financial services within the EAC:Documenting a clearer picture of financial integration in the EAC, as it is actually taking shape on the ground; and elaborating on the challenges specific to the integration of Burundi and Rwanda who joined the EAC subsequent to the preparation of FSITR. The recommendations are intended to provide inputs which will assist identification of projects to be financed under the proposed EAC Regional Financial Markets Integration Project.
Link to Data Set
Citation
World Bank. 2012. Scaling-up Regional Financial Integration in the East African Community. © World Bank. http://hdl.handle.net/10986/13031 License: CC BY 3.0 IGO.
Associated URLs
Associated content
Report Series
Other publications in this report series
Journal
Journal Volume
Journal Issue

Related items

Showing items related by metadata.

  • Publication
    Financial Sector Assessment : Fiji
    (Washington, DC, 2007-10) World Bank
    The financial sector in Fiji is generally sound but has concentrated too heavily on domestic exposures producing a lack of risk diversification. This concentration is an increasing vulnerability, as foreign currency earnings become more dependent on tourism and remittances from workers overseas. Fiji has a financially strong and highly profitable banking sector, good supervision and laws, and a high degree of long-term contractual savings through the insurance and pension sectors. The major distortion arises, however, from the Fiji National Provident Fund (FNPF), which itself accounts for about 40 percent of financial system assets. This paper takes a close look at Fiji's financial sector as it relates to the following: macroeconomic environment and risk; monetary policy, the financial sector stability and performance of the banking, insurance and Provident national fund; the regulatory framework; access to finance; payment systems; and anti laundering and terrorism. The paper also gives and overall assessment and key recommendations.
  • Publication
    Kyrgyz Republic - Financial Sector Assessment
    (Washington, DC, 2007-09) World Bank
    This Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) summarizes the structural and developmental aspects of the 2006 FSAP Update report for the Kyrgyz Republic. The stability and prudential oversight aspects of that report, including the factual updates of ROSCs and the results of the Anti Money Laundering and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (AML/CFT) assessment, are summarized in the Financial System Stability Assessment (FSSA) that was discussed by the IMF Board, as part of the Article IV Consultation, in May 2007. This FSA should be read together with the FSSA in order to get a full sense of the findings and recommendations of the 2006 Kyrgyz Republic FSAP Update. The key conclusion of the FSAP Update is that key challenges today pertain to the regulation, supervision and development of the non bank finance sector, and to access to finance.
  • Publication
    Belarus : Financial Sector Assessment
    (Washington, DC, 2009-11) World Bank
    The Financial System Assessment (FSA) is based on the work of the joint International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) updates that visited Belarus from September 17, 2007 to September 30, 2008. The principal objective of the FSAP update was to assist the authorities in evaluating progress, assessing potential vulnerabilities of the financial system, and determining future challenges. The IMF and the World Bank, an aide-memoire, technical notes on a detailed assessment of compliance with Basel Core Principles (BCP) principles of Banking supervision, summary assessment of compliance with the International Organization of Securities Commissions (IOSCO) principles, and access to finance, and background notes on stress-testing and the insurance sector have been submitted to the authorities. Overall, the supervisory framework for banks has significantly improved since the 2004 FSAP, though concerns remain in some crucial dimensions. The new Banking code was passed in 2006, and secondary legislation is updated on a regular basis. While the majority of recommendations made by the 2004 BCP assessment have been adopted or are in process of implementation, the independence of the National Bank of Republic of Belarus (NBRB) Board and bank supervisory processes continue to pose operational and reputation risks. As well, the capital adequacy framework needs substantial improvement to more accurately reflect the structure of the banking sector. Supervisory actions could be significantly enhanced by imposing adequate corporate governance requirements for banks.
  • Publication
    Financial Sector Assessment : Moldova
    (Washington, DC, 2008-03) World Bank
    This Financial Sector Assessment (FSA) provides a summary of the main findings and recommendations of the work of the joint International Monetary Fund (IMF)-World Bank Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP) Update that visited Moldova from October 1 to 12, 2007. The principal objective of the FSAP Update was to assist the authorities in evaluating development progress and future challenges and assessing the potential vulnerabilities of the financial system in Moldova. In addition to the aide memoire summarizing key findings, the output included detailed assessments of compliance with the base core principles for banking supervision and the core principles for systemically important payment systems, technical notes on securities markets, the insurance sector, banking sector and stress testing.
  • Publication
    Financial Sector Assessment : Bangladesh
    (Washington, DC, 2010-03) World Bank
    The Bangladesh financial system, particularly banking and microfinance, has grown and developed since 2003 against the backdrop of 6 percent average Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth. Banks' total assets and private credit ratios to GDP have each increased by about one-third since the 2003 Financial Sector Assessment Program (FSAP). Bank deposits, as a percentage of GDP, are comparable to other South Asian countries. Private domestic banks now hold a majority of bank assets; the shares of state-owned commercial banks (SCBs) and specialized banks (SBs) have declined correspondingly. Bank branches, access to banking, and microfinance services have expanded substantially. Nonbanking financial institutions have also grown but remain small; banks s till account for over 90 percent of financial institutions' assets. Equity market listings and capitalization have grown substantially; market capitalization was equivalent to about 14 percent of GDP in December 2008. A government bond market is developing. Further sound financial development in the various parts of the financial sector, and increased access, will benefit from improvement in fundamentals: better credit information and improved legal and judicial enforcement of creditors' rights and collateral execution.

Users also downloaded

Showing related downloaded files

  • Publication
    Global Economic Prospects, June 2025
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-06-10) World Bank
    The global economy is facing another substantial headwind, emanating largely from an increase in trade tensions and heightened global policy uncertainty. For emerging market and developing economies (EMDEs), the ability to boost job creation and reduce extreme poverty has declined. Key downside risks include a further escalation of trade barriers and continued policy uncertainty. These challenges are exacerbated by subdued foreign direct investment into EMDEs. Global cooperation is needed to restore a more stable international trade environment and scale up support for vulnerable countries grappling with conflict, debt burdens, and climate change. Domestic policy action is also critical to contain inflation risks and strengthen fiscal resilience. To accelerate job creation and long-term growth, structural reforms must focus on raising institutional quality, attracting private investment, and strengthening human capital and labor markets. Countries in fragile and conflict situations face daunting development challenges that will require tailored domestic policy reforms and well-coordinated multilateral support.
  • Publication
    Business Ready 2024
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-10-03) World Bank
    Business Ready (B-READY) is a new World Bank Group corporate flagship report that evaluates the business and investment climate worldwide. It replaces and improves upon the Doing Business project. B-READY provides a comprehensive data set and description of the factors that strengthen the private sector, not only by advancing the interests of individual firms but also by elevating the interests of workers, consumers, potential new enterprises, and the natural environment. This 2024 report introduces a new analytical framework that benchmarks economies based on three pillars: Regulatory Framework, Public Services, and Operational Efficiency. The analysis centers on 10 topics essential for private sector development that correspond to various stages of the life cycle of a firm. The report also offers insights into three cross-cutting themes that are relevant for modern economies: digital adoption, environmental sustainability, and gender. B-READY draws on a robust data collection process that includes specially tailored expert questionnaires and firm-level surveys. The 2024 report, which covers 50 economies, serves as the first in a series that will expand in geographical coverage and refine its methodology over time, supporting reform advocacy, policy guidance, and further analysis and research.
  • Publication
    Digital Progress and Trends Report 2023
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-03-05) World Bank
    Digitalization is the transformational opportunity of our time. The digital sector has become a powerhouse of innovation, economic growth, and job creation. Value added in the IT services sector grew at 8 percent annually during 2000–22, nearly twice as fast as the global economy. Employment growth in IT services reached 7 percent annually, six times higher than total employment growth. The diffusion and adoption of digital technologies are just as critical as their invention. Digital uptake has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, with 1.5 billion new internet users added from 2018 to 2022. The share of firms investing in digital solutions around the world has more than doubled from 2020 to 2022. Low-income countries, vulnerable populations, and small firms, however, have been falling behind, while transformative digital innovations such as artificial intelligence (AI) have been accelerating in higher-income countries. Although more than 90 percent of the population in high-income countries was online in 2022, only one in four people in low-income countries used the internet, and the speed of their connection was typically only a small fraction of that in wealthier countries. As businesses in technologically advanced countries integrate generative AI into their products and services, less than half of the businesses in many low- and middle-income countries have an internet connection. The growing digital divide is exacerbating the poverty and productivity gaps between richer and poorer economies. The Digital Progress and Trends Report series will track global digitalization progress and highlight policy trends, debates, and implications for low- and middle-income countries. The series adds to the global efforts to study the progress and trends of digitalization in two main ways: · By compiling, curating, and analyzing data from diverse sources to present a comprehensive picture of digitalization in low- and middle-income countries, including in-depth analyses on understudied topics. · By developing insights on policy opportunities, challenges, and debates and reflecting the perspectives of various stakeholders and the World Bank’s operational experiences. This report, the first in the series, aims to inform evidence-based policy making and motivate action among internal and external audiences and stakeholders. The report will bring global attention to high-performing countries that have valuable experience to share as well as to areas where efforts will need to be redoubled.
  • Publication
    Global Economic Prospects, January 2025
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2025-01-16) World Bank
    Global growth is expected to hold steady at 2.7 percent in 2025-26. However, the global economy appears to be settling at a low growth rate that will be insufficient to foster sustained economic development—with the possibility of further headwinds from heightened policy uncertainty and adverse trade policy shifts, geopolitical tensions, persistent inflation, and climate-related natural disasters. Against this backdrop, emerging market and developing economies are set to enter the second quarter of the twenty-first century with per capita incomes on a trajectory that implies substantially slower catch-up toward advanced-economy living standards than they previously experienced. Without course corrections, most low-income countries are unlikely to graduate to middle-income status by the middle of the century. Policy action at both global and national levels is needed to foster a more favorable external environment, enhance macroeconomic stability, reduce structural constraints, address the effects of climate change, and thus accelerate long-term growth and development.
  • Publication
    The Container Port Performance Index 2023
    (Washington, DC: World Bank, 2024-07-18) World Bank
    The Container Port Performance Index (CPPI) measures the time container ships spend in port, making it an important point of reference for stakeholders in the global economy. These stakeholders include port authorities and operators, national governments, supranational organizations, development agencies, and other public and private players in trade and logistics. The index highlights where vessel time in container ports could be improved. Streamlining these processes would benefit all parties involved, including shipping lines, national governments, and consumers. This fourth edition of the CPPI relies on data from 405 container ports with at least 24 container ship port calls in the calendar year 2023. As in earlier editions of the CPPI, the ranking employs two different methodological approaches: an administrative (technical) approach and a statistical approach (using matrix factorization). Combining these two approaches ensures that the overall ranking of container ports reflects actual port performance as closely as possible while also being statistically robust. The CPPI methodology assesses the sequential steps of a container ship port call. ‘Total port hours’ refers to the total time elapsed from the moment a ship arrives at the port until the vessel leaves the berth after completing its cargo operations. The CPPI uses time as an indicator because time is very important to shipping lines, ports, and the entire logistics chain. However, time, as captured by the CPPI, is not the only way to measure port efficiency, so it does not tell the entire story of a port’s performance. Factors that can influence the time vessels spend in ports can be location-specific and under the port’s control (endogenous) or external and beyond the control of the port (exogenous). The CPPI measures time spent in container ports, strictly based on quantitative data only, which do not reveal the underlying factors or root causes of extended port times. A detailed port-specific diagnostic would be required to assess the contribution of underlying factors to the time a vessel spends in port. A very low ranking or a significant change in ranking may warrant special attention, for which the World Bank generally recommends a detailed diagnostic.