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Minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti is the coordinating minister for economic affairs for Indonesia. Within that remit comes a range of challenges and issues – most recently the delayed Bank Niaga sale, the fines levied against parties to the Indomobil sale, the continuing battles of IBRA against bad debts, and the effect of the Manulife judgment on foreign investor sentiment. In a roundabout way, he shares his views with Chris Wright in Jakarta

Anaemic trade flows and the challenge of open account trading have led to intense competition among bankers, discovers Pauline Loong.

Boeing, as any of its staff will tell you these days, is an aerospace company, not an aircraft manufacturer. This subtle shift in semantics underlies a significant change, which Boeing's PR executives refer to as a “business transformation strategy”, through which the company has diversified from passenger aircraft into defence, space, communications, air traffic management – and financial services. The last of these, Boeing Capital Corporation, announced the opening of a Hong Kong office in June, and Asiamoney met its managing director for the region, Foster Arata, two weeks later. Boeing Capital describes itself as a “global, full-service provider of financial solutions, with a primary focus on assets critical to customers of the Boeing Company”. With its roots in the McDonnell Douglas Finance Company that was established in 1968 to help finance new aircraft, Boeing capital offers asset-backed lending and leasing services. It became a free-standing business unit of Boeing in October 1999 and has since developed a global portfolio worth over US$10 billion.

PCCW gained its third CFO of the year in late June when the latest incumbent, Frederick Ma, was seduced by the allure of high office. Ma was appointed secretary for financial services and the treasury under the new ministerial system of the Hong Kong government only weeks after taking over the PCCW mantle from David Prince. Ma's resignation took immediate effect, and he took up his government post on July 1. Into the breach steps Alex Arena, a regular among the company's top brass from the outset. He adds CFO to his previous titles of executive director, deputy chairman of the executive committee and member of the finance committee.

Brunei is positioning itself as a regional – even international – financial hub, but what exactly is the sultanate's competitive advantage? Chris Wright reports.

On July 1, restrictive covenants stopping investors from holding more than a 10% stake in St George Bank expire. National Australia Bank (NAB), Westpac, HSBC and Lloyds TSB are among the likely bidders for the largest Australian bank outside the big four. But St George thinks it can go it alone. CFO Steve McKerihan speaks to Chris Wright. You have told local TV that you would prefer to remain independent. Is that correct?

Citibank ranks top in our global custody poll again this year. Our respondents offer a valuable insight in to what they want from their global custodians, and whether they are satisfied with the services they receive. Olivia Chow and Robert Law report.

Philippine golden boy Lito Camacho is suddenly under scrutiny following a large budget deficit shortfall and the controversial timing of the republic's March 2009 bond. Matthew Montagu-Pollock speaks to the finance minister and JPMorgan, theunderwriter of the deal.

Policy change boosts China A-shares... for how long?

Taiwan M&A activity lacks substance

What do you know about SG in Asia? Possibly this: strength in complex specialist areas, such as equity derivatives, project finance and securitization; and beyond that, little else. That's how we saw SG, anyway, and our first question to its recently appointed Asia Pacific CEO, Michel Macagno, was whether that description was fair. Macagno, an endlessly smiling presence throughout the interview, doesn't ever look too upset or irritated, but it's clear he doesn't like the ‘specialist areas' label. “We have a number of strengths, and you just mentioned some of them, but what we are aiming for is to move to a more integrated platform in Asia,” he says. (Like many in his position, he uses phrases like “integrated platform” and “solution-based approach” an awful lot.) “We are moving to a solution-based approach to avoid exactly what you said – a product-driven approach,” he says. “We are strong in products but what we want to deliver is a client solution.”

Minister Dorodjatun Kuntjoro-Jakti is the coordinating minister for economic affairs for Indonesia. Within that remit comes a range of challenges and issues – most recently the delayed Bank Niaga sale, the fines levied against parties to the Indomobil sale, the continuing battles of IBRA against bad debts, and the effect of the Manulife judgment on foreign investor sentiment. In a roundabout way, he shares his views with Chris Wright in Jakarta