“Africa’s story is one of capability, innovation, and untapped potential, not of limitation, as too often defines external perception.”
Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), makes a strong case for using African capital first to show what Africa is capable of. Since his appointment in 2018, he has doubled the number of AFC member countries and more than quadrupled investments.
Zoleka Lisa, South African Breweries’ Vice-President: Corporate Affairs, answers our Q&A on the three key philosophies that support the company’s success on the continent: community, commitment, and consistency. This year, she also served as a member of the B20 Trade & Investment Task Force.
As the Head of Bayer Africa (Crop Science), Debra Mallowah provides leadership in agricultural innovation and sustainable food systems. Speaking as Chair of the B20 Task Force on Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture, her article is a call for maximising the G20.
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As I write this foreword, I’m reminded of a fundamental truth that has guided my career: the power of planning ahead, even in times of uncertainty. Over the past decade, the world has experienced profound macroeconomic and geopolitical change. Yet despite the unprecedented uncertainty accompanying these changes in the global landscape, Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking (CIB) has successfully executed its strategic plans because we remain anchored in our purpose, “Africa is our home, we drive her growth”.
The same principle remains pertinent today as Africa reaches another pivotal juncture. The B20 and G20 forums signify the themes of inclusive growth, global cooperation, and sustainability that redefine our development paradigm. For us, these elements surpass the status of mere aspirational concepts, serving instead as the foundation of every decision we make.
Take infrastructure development, one of our core focus areas. While critics often point to Africa’s infrastructure gaps, we see the extraordinary opportunity this represents. Every renewable energy project we finance, every transport corridor we help develop, every manufacturing plant we support is laying the groundwork for a more connected, sustainable continent.
This issue of Blue showcases that narrative shift. Africa’s story is one of capability, innovation, and untapped potential, not of limitation, as too often defines external perception.
The entrepreneurs, infrastructure pioneers, and financial innovators featured on these pages represent the Africa we know intimately – one where purpose-driven partnerships create lasting change. As someone who travelled from Mandalay in Cape Town to the boardrooms of Johannesburg, I understand that sustainable growth happens when we combine global expertise with local insight, when we plan for the long term while remaining adaptable to change.
Our role as Standard Bank CIB extends beyond traditional banking. We are proud partners in Africa’s growth story, facilitators of the continent’s integration into global value chains, and believers in the transformative power of sustainable finance.
Luvuyo Masinda
Chief Executive, Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking
“Africa’s story is one of capability, innovation, and untapped potential, not of limitation, as too often defines external perception.”
Samaila Zubairu, President and CEO of the Africa Finance Corporation (AFC), makes a strong case for using African capital first to show what Africa is capable of. Since his appointment in 2018, he has doubled the number of AFC member countries and more than quadrupled investments.
Zoleka Lisa, South African Breweries’ Vice-President: Corporate Affairs, answers our Q&A on the three key philosophies that support the company’s success on the continent: community, commitment, and consistency. This year, she also served as a member of the B20 Trade & Investment Task Force.
As the Head of Bayer Africa (Crop Science), Debra Mallowah provides leadership in agricultural innovation and sustainable food systems. Speaking as Chair of the B20 Task Force on Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture, her article is a call for maximising the G20.