Standard Bank Africa unlocked conference that took place recently looked at Africa’s potential for growth
Standard Bank's Africa unlocked conference delved into the continent's substantial potential for growth, withl GDP expected to be 4% this year, despite many challenges including high US tariffs and disrupted energy and shipping flows.
Bill Blackie, CEO of business and commercial Banking at Standard Bank said this is the third edition of Africa Unlocked. “Our theme this year is Built in Africa: Amplifying Continental Growth. It speaks to growth shaped by African enterprise, African capital, and African conviction—built steadily over time, often despite prevailing sentiment. That effort compounds; Across sectors; Across borders; Across generations.”
Blackie added that when he closed this conference last year, he spoke about his optimism for Africa’s growth prospects. “Earlier this year, I visited East Africa and met one of our clients, Coast Cables. Founded in 1978 as a manufacturer of super-enameled copper cables, it has since developed into a large-scale producer of domestic and industrial power cables, supplying across the region and now expanding into solar energy."
Blackie said that what stayed with him was not only the business itself. “It was the conviction behind it. Through economic cycles, currency volatility and infrastructure constraints, they kept building. As I was leaving, the owner reflected on his journey. For years, he had done what prudent operators are taught to do—diversify, hedge and spread risk. Then he said: "If I knew then what I know now, I would have invested all my capital here in East Africa.”
