Article: Lonwabo Mtyeku – GP News Media, Community Newsroom
Rishaad Webster, Provincial Head of Business Banking (KZN) at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking.
KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa – 30 October 2025
As Africa’s trade landscape continues to evolve amid global uncertainty, one truth has become undeniable — collaboration is now the currency of progress. From the ports of Durban to the corridors of continental trade summits, a new era of partnership is taking shape, driven by institutions that understand that Africa’s prosperity will be built enterprise by enterprise.
At the forefront of this movement stands Standard Bank, reaffirming its commitment to driving inclusive trade-led growth through platforms like Engage Trade Africa 2025, hosted in Durban from 27 to 30 October 2025.
The event brings together business leaders, financiers, policymakers, and entrepreneurs to chart a sustainable path for Africa’s industrialisation and market access — conversations that have never been more critical.
“KwaZulu-Natal is one of South Africa’s most dynamic economic hubs, anchored by the Durban harbour, which serves as a critical gateway for trade and tourism,” says Rishaad Webster, Provincial Head of Business Banking (KZN) at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking. “Our involvement in Engage Trade Africa is about impact — not just visibility. It’s about helping businesses start, manage, and grow their enterprises by unlocking working capital, enabling market access, and building resilience in the face of global trade pressures.”
Sithembile Dlamini, Head for Africa China Banking at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking
Resilience Amid Complexity
South African businesses continue to operate in a world defined by currency volatility, infrastructure constraints, and an often fragmented regulatory environment. Yet, even within this complexity, resilience shines through.
According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the nation recorded a R4.0 billion trade surplus in August 2025, driven by exports of R171.3 billion and imports of R167.4 billion.
However, challenges persist beneath the surface. One growing concern is the “Trade Credit Squeeze” — delayed payments that affect up to 30% of trade credit-based sales. For the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) that make up 90% of South Africa’s business sector, this issue threatens sustainability and growth.
This is where platforms like Engage Trade Africa play an essential role: connecting enterprises with practical financial solutions, informed trade intelligence, and meaningful partnerships that translate potential into performance.
Partnership as the Engine of Progress
“At Standard Bank, our efforts focus on collaboration as the foundation of Africa’s next phase of trade-led growth,” explains Sithembile Dlamini, Head of Africa China Banking at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking.
Through the Africa China Trade Solutions (ACTS) platform — developed in partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) — Standard Bank is empowering African businesses to access new markets, strengthen liquidity, and navigate the complex realities of cross-border trade.
The timing could not be more critical. The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) — projected to boost intra-African exports by 81% — is ushering in an era of unprecedented opportunity. But opportunity without access is potential unrealised.
“Businesses need solutions that bridge access to finance, trade intelligence, and partnerships,” Dlamini adds. “Our role is to help African businesses translate these opportunities into measurable outcomes — enabling them to compete, expand, and connect confidently in both continental and global markets.”
Digital Transformation: The New Trade Frontier
Trade is becoming increasingly digital, and Standard Bank is positioning African enterprises to lead this transformation. Through integration with ICBC’s Business Matchmaker platform, the bank connects local exporters and importers to a global network of over 10 million verified buyers and sellers, offering free listings, continuous visibility, and transparent engagement.
From supplier verification and inspections to logistics coordination and advisory support, Standard Bank’s trade facilitation ecosystems are enabling African businesses to thrive. A recent success story is NRS Solutions, a South African company that imported advanced machinery through the bank’s trade ecosystem — a testament to how digital and financial innovation can unlock real-world growth.
“We’re helping clients move beyond transactional banking to transformational trade,” says Dlamini. “That means combining financial solutions with digital infrastructure and partnerships that level the playing field for African enterprises.”
Turning Potential Into Prosperity
As Africa deepens its integration into global markets, the challenge — and opportunity — lies in ensuring that local businesses are not only included in global trade but positioned to shape it.
For Standard Bank, the path forward is clear: a strategic, digitally enabled, and partnership-driven approach that supports African businesses not just to survive, but to thrive.
From Durban’s docks to the boardrooms of global trade partners, a new narrative is emerging — one where Africa’s growth is powered by its own innovators, producers, and entrepreneurs, and where institutions like Standard Bank serve as both bridge and catalyst for the continent’s next great leap forward.
For more information on Standard Bank’s trade solutions, visit:
👉 Standard Bank Trade Suite