ZUG, Switzerland--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mar 17, 2025--
For IT vendors, emerging markets are risky. Local regulations, cultural differences, local currencies, channel liquidity, and settling disputes complicate such plans. Fortunately, a new generation of channel finance solutions is smoothing the journey.
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The emerging market growth trend
Emerging markets are becoming the engines powering global and regional trade, growing at an annual rate of 4.2% (IMF), versus 1.7% in mature economies, and contributing two-thirds to global growth.
India's heavy investments in its technology sector, China's focus on modern healthcare, Brazil's ambitions for green energy, and the rise of mobility among African countries—digital technology enables strong growth in emerging markets. Technology vendors are changing how they tap into those markets through supporting local IT channels.
"For decades, technology was sold through various hubs around the world, and the channel effectively stopped there," says Boris Todorov, Executive Vice President of WeFi 's Client Solutions Group. "But what we have seen is that IT vendors have established onshore presence in several countries with the goal of developing local channel programmes."
Emerging Market Blues
However, establishing presences in emerging markets is hard, expensive, and risky to local complexities.
"Emerging markets bring several challenges, starting with import regulations, taxes, local currency risks including convertibility, legal risks, banking regulation, compliance, and credit risk. All of the listed areas are subject to changes, which can impact the other areas; hence the complexities and resources required," says Todorov.
Vendor channel programmes must accommodate and manage challenges like credit checks, legal agreements, currency fluctuations, negotiations around delivery and receivables, and disputes to reap expansion rewards. Yet, traditional channel finance companies often lack the scope or flexibility to help.
How Channel Finance Derisks Emerging Markets
A new generation of channel finance fintechs are filling this gap. For example, WeFi develops managed vendor channel programs that include legal contracts, easy access to credit, local currency management, buyer vetting, receivables forecasting, and even ensuring vendor customers have the connectivity to access these services.
"We address the issues inherent to different channel finance situations so that sellers and buyers can focus on their pure business," says Todorov. "Emerging market resellers are excited to join these managed channel programs because they can access longer terms and higher credit limits that can be calibrated with minimal usage of insurance or reseller collateral. Vendors and creditors vastly simplify their administration and oversight. For example, treasurers can use our platform data to predict future demand and potential payment delays accurately."
They combine human expertise supported by proprietary technologies such as WeFi's IZZI platform. These specialised platforms deliver innovative solutions that streamline channel finance processes, introduce new finance technologies, and facilitate complex deals and programs.
"In 2024, we have seen and financed a number of large-AI related deals, which have been split between developed and emerging markets, and which require longer terms, specific credit lines and structures which often take risk on the final customer," says Todorov. "The shift from traditional channel finance is continuing. Channel finance solution providers stay on top of these trends by working closely with their clients who require customised structured solutions."
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For more information about WeFi Technology Group visit:https://wefitec.com/
Boris Todorov, Executive Vice President of WeFi's Client Solutions Group
KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Russian drones blasted apartment buildings and the power grid in the southern Ukraine city of Odesa in an overnight attack that injured six people, including a toddler and two other children, officials said Wednesday.
Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed confidence in his country's eventual victory in the nearly four-year war against its neighbor.
Four apartment buildings were damaged in the Odesa bombardment, according to regional military administration head Oleh Kiper. The DTEK power provider said two of its energy facilities had significant damage. The company said 10 substations that distribute electricity in the region have been damaged in December.
Russia has escalated attacks on urban areas of Ukraine. As its invasion approaches a four-year milestone in February, it has also intensified targeting of energy infrastructure, seeking to deny Ukrainians heat and running water in the bitter winter months.
Between January and November, more than 2,300 Ukrainian civilians were killed and more than 11,000 were injured, the United Nations said earlier in December. That was 26% higher than in the same period in 2024 and 70% higher than in 2023, it said.
There are renewed diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.
U.S. President Donald Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Sunday and announced that a settlement is “closer than ever before." The Ukrainian leader is due to hold talks next week with European leaders supporting his efforts to secure acceptable terms.
Despite progress in peace negotiations, which he didn't mention, Putin reaffirmed his belief in Russia’s eventual success in its invasion during his traditional New Year’s address.
He gave special praise to Russian troops deployed in Ukraine, describing them as heroes “fighting for your native land, truth and justice.”
“We believe in you and our victory,” Putin said, as cited by Russian state news agency Tass.
The Russian Defense Ministry said 86 Ukrainian drones were shot down overnight over Russian regions, the Black Sea and the illegally annexed Crimea peninsula.
Russia’s Defense Ministry released a video of a downed drone that it said was one of 91 Ukrainian drones involved in an alleged attack this week on a Putin residence in northwestern Russia, a claim Kyiv has denied as a “lie.”
The nighttime video showed a man in camouflage, a helmet and a Kevlar vest standing near a damaged drone lying in snow. The man, his face covered, talks about the drone. Neither the man nor the Defense Ministry provided any location or date.
The video and claims could not be independently verified, and there was no immediate comment from Ukrainian officials.
Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations of an attack on Putin’s lakeside country residence and called them a ruse to derail progress in peace negotiations.
Maj. Gen. Alexander Romanenkov of the Russian air force claimed that the drones took off from Ukraine’s Sumy and Chernihiv regions. At a briefing where no questions were allowed, he presented a map showing the drone flight routes before they allegedly were downed by Russian air defenses over the Bryansk, Tver, Smolensk and Novgorod regions.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, called the Russian allegations “a deliberate distraction” from peace talks.
Zelenskyy said Romania and Croatia are the latest countries to join a fund that buys weapons for Ukraine from the United States.
The financial arrangement, known as the Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List, or PURL, pools contributions from NATO members, except the United States, to purchase U.S. weapons, munitions and equipment.
Since it was established in August, 24 countries are now contributing to the fund, according to Zelenskyy. The fund has received $4.3 billion, with almost $1.5 billion coming in December, he said on social media.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s Security Service carried out a drone strike on a major Russian fuel storage facility in the northwestern Yaroslavl region early Tuesday, according to a Ukrainian security official who was not authorized to speak publicly.
Long-range drones struck the Temp oil depot in the city of Rybinsk, part of Russia’s state fuel reserve system, the official told The Associated Press. Rybinsk is about 800 kilometers (500 miles) from the Ukrainian border.
A previous version of this story was corrected to give the timing of the alleged attack on Putin's residence as late Sunday and early Monday.
Katie Marie Davies in Leicester, England, contributed to this story.
Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine
This image made from undated video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, shows a downed drone at an undisclosed location that it said was one of the Ukrainian drones involved in an alleged attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin this week – a claim Kyiv has denied as a "lie". (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
This image made from undated video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, shows a downed drone at an undisclosed location that it said was one of the Ukrainian drones involved in an alleged attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin this week – a claim Kyiv has denied as a "lie". (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
This image made from undated video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025, shows a man in camouflage standing by a downed drone at an undisclosed location that it said was one of the Ukrainian drones involved in an alleged attack on a residence of President Vladimir Putin this week – a claim Kyiv has denied as a "lie". (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Emergency Service, emergency services personnel work to extinguish a fire following a Russian attack in Odesa, Ukraine, Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2025. (Ukrainian Emergency Service via AP)
In this image made from video provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, Dec. 30, 2025, a Russian Army soldier fires from D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)
