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When you work in Africa in corporate and investment banking, you really see the vast opportunities and remarkable ability of people on all levels to innovate, make a plan, and get a job done – whether it’s a large-scale project to supply emergency power across borders or a mother wanting to find a better way to treat babies with jaundice. (Read all about our ground-breaking transaction with GreenCo in Zambia and meet Virtue Oboro, the Nigerian mother who invented a life-saving device for newborn babies.)
This attitude and aptitude shone through in all the conversations we had while producing this issue of Blue. They also speak to the natural optimism that stems from having the B20 and G20 summits come to South Africa.
As a continent, we can be proud of the visionary business leaders who made up the eight B20 task forces and whose collective expertise produced practical, actionable recommendations for driving Africa forward.
Speaking of the work that went into these papers, Zoleka Lisa, South African Breweries’ Vice-President: Corporate Affairs, says: “Beyond the G20 and B20 headlines, the real achievement lies in the process – months of dialogue, structured engagement, and consensus-building that turned diverse voices into shared priorities”. Now the real work will start: putting the recommendations into practice. (Read our Q&A with her in our special section, From intent to impact.)
I found this shared drive to put the shoulder to the wheel, and the commitment of our business leaders, inspiring and energising.
“We do not experience a ‘dark continent’ – as hesitant capital sometimes claims – but one that rewards those who take the time to explore all that Africa offers,” says Sim Tshabalala, Standard Bank Group’s CEO, capturing the bank’s stance based on our extensive experience in the 21 countries where we are active.
It’s clear that Africa has the people, the will, and the skills, and we definitely have the innovative thinking. Now, it’s up to us to seize this moment and make the B20 and G20 work for the people of Africa.
Gugu-Lisa Zwane-Johnson
Head of Brand and Marketing,
Standard Bank Corporate and Investment Banking
“It’s clear that Africa has the people, the will and the skills, and we definitely have the innovative thinking.”
CURTIS MEINTJIES calls himself an “energy aficionado” and has more than 24 years’ experience shaping utility-scale power infrastructure. He currently steers environmental and social compliance for ACWA Power’s developments in Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Türkiye.
NICOLE ROOS is the first female MD and Chairperson of Nestlé East and Southern Africa Region, and Co-Chair of the B20 Sustainable Food Systems & Agriculture Task Force. In our special insert, she answers our Q&A on Nestlé’s strategic expansion in Africa and how they create shared value for all stakeholders.
DELE KUTI, Standard Bank’s Global Head: Energy and Infrastructure, is focused on delivering financing and advisory expertise to clients around the world. Drawing on nearly 20 years’ experience in this field, he answers a question frequently heard at the B20: What makes a project bankable?
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