BusinessSince taking the helm of Forvis Mazars in Switzerland in March 2025, Angelo Accardi has steered the firm toward a goal of 600 employees within three years. While the company currently centers its operations in French-speaking Switzerland, Accardi is aggressively targeting the competitive landscape of the German-speaking market.
BusinessWhile Switzerland leads the world in deep tech investment—with 63 percent of venture capital flowing into robotics, semiconductors, and biotech—the country’s massive pension funds remain largely on the sidelines. As domestic research matures into commercial success, foreign investors frequently step in to capture the long-term economic value.
BusinessChancellor Rachel Reeves lobbied UBS Chairman Colm Kelleher to relocate the bank’s legal headquarters and stock listing to London. During private talks held earlier this year, the former finance minister positioned the UK as a primary destination should the lender decide to exit Switzerland due to rising capital requirements.
BusinessThe European Investment Bank and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation have signed a five-year pact to align their investment strategies. By targeting critical minerals, supply chain resilience, and Ukraine’s reconstruction, the two institutions aim to leverage their combined reach across Europe, Asia, and Africa to secure economic stability.
BusinessAfter a blast wave from a 2022 Russian attack left Malyn Lyceum No. 2 in ruins, the century-old institution has officially reopened its doors. A €2 million renovation project has transformed the damaged structure into a modern facility, now equipped to host 600 pupils in a safer, upgraded environment.
BusinessAs Uzbekistan’s cities expand and electricity demand surges, the Asian Development Bank has finalized a $200 million loan to modernize the nation’s crumbling power distribution network. The initiative targets critical infrastructure failures while clearing a path for the integration of 3.3 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity.
BusinessA €3.5 million loan from the European Investment Bank is fueling an €18 million overhaul of the Tiroler Zugspitzbahn, the cable car and ski resort complex in Ehrwald. The project aims to modernize infrastructure at the base of Germany’s highest mountain, enhancing visitor capacity and operational efficiency near the Austrian-German border.
BusinessA former natural gas-dependent fertilizer facility in India is set for a radical transformation into one of the world’s largest green ammonia production sites. Supported by a $100 million loan from the Asian Development Bank and Japan, the project aims to decouple essential fertilizer production from fossil fuel reliance.
BusinessStepping into his new office in Ha Noi, Scott Roberts assumes the role of Country Director for the Asian Development Bank in Viet Nam. He arrives with a mandate to steer the institution’s strategy toward resilient infrastructure, private capital mobilization, and the country’s transition to greener, more inclusive economic growth.
BusinessKenyan small and medium-sized enterprises stand to gain a vital liquidity boost as the African Development Bank Group and Equity Bank Kenya launch a $60 million trade finance guarantee facility. The pact aims to bypass traditional credit hurdles by insulating confirming banks against the risk of non-payment for cross-border deals.
BusinessTimor-Leste has formally signaled its intent to join the WTO’s 2012 Government Procurement Agreement, becoming the first least-developed nation to initiate the accession process. The move, presented at a 14 October committee meeting, aims to overhaul domestic public spending rules while the body simultaneously grapples with protectionist policy disputes.
BusinessThe World Bank’s private-sector arm, the IFC, has committed up to $50 million to the Emerging Asia Infrastructure Credit Fund, marking the first concrete move under the DRIVE framework. By partnering with the Japan International Cooperation Agency, the initiative aims to catalyze private capital for industrial energy efficiency.
BusinessOn October 10, 2026, producers from Senegal's Saloum Delta brought mangrove honey, oysters, and ark clams to Dakar, bridging the gap between rural harvest and urban supply chains. This showcase offered women and young entrepreneurs a direct platform to negotiate professional contracts with the city's hotels, restaurants, and distributors.
BusinessDjibouti’s industrial and green energy sectors stand to gain a vital lifeline as the African Development Bank Board of Directors approved an $8 million trade guarantee facility on 7 October 2026. This five-year arrangement aims to bridge critical financing gaps for local businesses importing machinery and essential production inputs.
BusinessFifty-two representatives from chambers in Zliten, Jabal al Akhdar, and Zuwara are overhauling how they engage with local enterprises. Supported by the International Labour Organization, these officials are shifting from theoretical training to implementing concrete service protocols designed to meet the immediate, practical demands of the Libyan private sector.
BusinessA $10 million injection from IDB Lab into the Cometa IV venture fund aims to scale early-stage technology companies across Latin America and the Caribbean. The capital targets startups focused on financial infrastructure, software-as-a-service, and digital solutions in health and education, bridging critical funding gaps for regional innovators.
BusinessWith 24 million migrants originating from ASEAN nations, the International Labour Organization has launched a $20 million initiative in Manila to standardize recruitment and worker protection. Running through 2031, the program targets improved labor stability across key sectors, shifting the focus toward transparent cross-border employment practices.
BusinessThe African Development Bank and the UNDP are targeting a $10 billion investment over the next decade to accelerate AI adoption across Africa. By focusing on agriculture, manufacturing, and finance, the partnership aims to generate 25 million jobs by 2035, moving beyond simple pledges toward project-ready financing.
BusinessIndia’s recent economic growth upgrades by global agencies are driven by a surge in exports, according to former Union Minister of State for Finance Jayant Sinha. Speaking in Delhi, he identified strategic free trade agreements and a softer rupee as the primary catalysts for the country’s strong performance and job creation.
BusinessThe International Development Association has debuted a Discount Notes Program, marking its first direct foray into U.S. short-term money markets. By tapping into the liquidity of American state treasuries and corporate funds, the institution aims to secure a flexible, cost-effective funding stream to bolster its global poverty-reduction initiatives.
BusinessNearly one in four U.S. investment advisers discloses the use of artificial intelligence in their client brochures, yet warnings about the technology's risks appear with even greater frequency. A study by Samir Chincholikar and Robin Chawla reveals a landscape where disclosure varies significantly by firm size and asset management strategy.
BusinessIndustrial parks often waste surplus wind and solar energy, leaving renewable capacity unused while incurring steep utility bills. A new study simulating a chemical park in Xinjiang demonstrates that integrating hydrogen storage with heat recovery systems can slash daily operating costs by 81.5% and reduce carbon emissions by over 75%.
BusinessNepal has entered a formal mandate agreement with the World Bank to evaluate the feasibility of a catastrophe bond. This exploratory initiative seeks to determine if international capital markets can provide the country with rapid liquidity and financial security in the immediate aftermath of major seismic events.
BusinessFor millions living outside Bangkok, a diagnosis requiring specialist care has long necessitated a grueling journey to the capital. A new $212 million financing package from the Asian Development Bank aims to dismantle this geographic barrier by upgrading five key regional public hospitals to handle complex medical needs locally.
BusinessFifteen major development institutions ended 2025 with fortified capital reserves and liquidity, according to the latest Multilateral Development Banks Comparison Report. This collective financial snapshot provides G20 shareholders with a standardized framework to evaluate lending capacity while balancing the diverse mandates that govern global development finance.
BusinessAirlines are expanding their environmental oversight beyond the tarmac and into their hotel booking contracts. The International Air Transport Association and the World Sustainable Hospitality Alliance have signed a new pact to align sustainability criteria, moving away from fragmented reporting toward unified standards for the global travel supply chain.
BusinessLithuania’s economy is expanding, yet unemployment remains stubbornly stuck near 7 percent. A new IMF study by Lukas Boer and Thibault Cezanne reveals that the disconnect between job seekers and vacant positions is driven by systemic structural barriers rather than a simple lack of available work.
BusinessThe Inter-American Development Bank Group secured $12.2 billion in private capital during 2025, a dramatic surge from the $3.9 billion recorded four years prior. This triple-digit growth highlights a strategic shift toward leveraging private investment to bolster development financing across Latin America and the Caribbean.
BusinessThe Reserve Bank of India may abandon its scheduled timeline for monetary tightening, with analysts at Union Bank of India warning of an unscheduled interest rate hike. Faced with a weakening rupee and inflation figures that have outpaced market expectations, the central bank is under mounting pressure to intervene immediately.
BusinessA new agreement signed on 2 October between the African Development Bank Group and Habib Bank AG Zurich Kenya seeks to dismantle financial barriers for African importers and exporters. By providing guarantees against non-payment risks, the deal aims to unlock liquidity for cross-border transactions hindered by traditional banking constraints.