Inside Africa - African Finance And The Cost of Capital In Africa

Loading player...
Guest – Bill Blackie - CEO, Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank

At a time when Africa’s potential is being stifled by the prohibitively high cost of capital, key players in finance and development came together at the Financing Africa Forward Summit with a common objective: to turn insight into action. One of those leading the charge is Bill Blackie, CEO of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank.

we unpack the urgent need for African-led, African-owned solutions to the continent’s capital challenges. From reimagining sovereign investor relations to unlocking institutional capital and rewriting the narrative around African risk, Bill shares the concrete steps the continent can take to lower the cost of capital, boost SME growth, and drive scalable infrastructure investment.

This isn’t just about policy – it’s about practical solutions and a blueprint for economic self-determination. As Bill put it: “Africa’s development isn’t just about infrastructure. It’s about trust, governance, and the free flow of capital and ideas. Our growth will be built by us.”
6 Aug 2025 1PM English South Africa Business News · Investing

Other recent episodes

Inside Alexforbes FY26: Strong Cash, Strong Capital, Strong Growth

Alexforbes delivered a resilient FY26 performance, with AuM and administration up 22% to R733 billion, a steady dividend, and 91% of revenue anchored in South Africa. CEO Dawie de Villiers breaks down solvency strength, client behaviour, digital transformation, and where the group sees growth in FY27 across retirement, healthcare and…
12 Jun 6AM 19 min

Pets as Family: Inside SA’s R10.4bn Pet Economy Boom

South Africa’s pet sector is booming — now worth R10.4bn and growing at nearly 16%. Trade Intelligence’s Andrea Slabber and Petshop Science’s Trevor Paxton unpack the emotional drivers behind pet spending, the tension between premiumisation and affordability, the rise of specialist pet retail, and what pet baskets reveal about middle‑class…
12 Jun 6AM 18 min

IP as a Business Asset: Protect, Commercialise and Enforce

Intellectual property is no longer a legal afterthought — it’s a commercial asset. RNMS Inc. founder Rachel Sikwane explains how trademarks, copyright, patents and trade secrets drive competitive advantage; the biggest mistakes businesses make; how to commercialise IP for revenue; and why African market expansion demands proactive IP protection.
11 Jun 2PM 14 min

SPAR’s New Leadership on Stabilizing the Business as HEPS Falls 53.9%

SPAR Group CEO Reeza Isaacs discusses the retailer’s interim results, with revenue up 3.6% but operating profit down sharply due to KZN distribution challenges, Black Friday overspend, and higher debtor costs. He outlines the group's turnaround priorities—from commercial transformation to retailer loyalty, debt reduction, and restoring margins—and what a “materially…
10 Jun 4PM 15 min

South Africans Pivot to PHEVs: What a 430% Surge Means for the Market

Cars.co.za Chief Product & Innovation Officer Alan Quinn unpacks the dramatic 430% year‑on‑year surge in plug‑in hybrid (PHEV) sales in Q1 2026. He explains what’s driving the shift—from fuel price pain to range‑anxiety relief—and what it means for dealers, resale values, and charging infrastructure. A practical guide for consumers choosing…
10 Jun 4PM 16 min