Standard Bank
In Africa, Standard Bank’s connectivity and expertise is second to none. Over the years, the bank has worked on a number of landmark deals that have transformed and modernized the region’s capital markets and economies, and it continues to bring in new investors who might otherwise find it daunting to navigate the continent’s disparate markets.
Chinese banks are a good example: Standard Bank’s new Africa China Banking Centre is set to make their business a lot easier.
Opened this year in Johannesburg, the centre is the world’s first dedicated to linking Chinese and African clients via a virtual finance hub, building on a rapidly evolving trade partnership between Africa and China.
Standard Bank’s connection with ICBC since the Chinese bank bought a 20% stake in the South African lender in 2007 will no doubt be an advantage in this respect.
In 2015, ICBC acquired a controlling stake in Standard Bank’s London-based global markets business to create ICBCS, a platform to serve Chinese clients looking closely at global commodities, fixed income, currency and equities products.