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

Southern Africa sees Private Capital's Big Comeback

Private capital is making a strong comeback. Fundraising in Southern Africa surged by 162%, making 2025 one of the strongest years on record. Anusha Naidu, CEO of SAVCA, unpacks what's driving renewed investor interest, where capital is being deployed, the sectors attracting attention, and what private equity investors are telling…
29 Oct 1PM 12 min

Investing In Women: Business Strategy Or Box-Ticking?

Corporate South Africa has spent years talking about diversity and transformation, but is enough being done to build the next generation of women leaders? Pride Mnene Hlungwani, marketing and transformation leader at bp South Africa, explains why leadership development matters, the economic case for investing in women, and how businesses…
29 Oct 1PM 30 min

Africa's Resilience Dividend: Where Smart Money Is Heading

What makes an African economy investable in today's uncertain world? Precious Dube, Macroeconomist for Broader Africa at RMB, unpacks the bank's latest Where to Invest in Africa 2026/27 report. From Morocco's rise and South Africa's resilience to the growing importance of policy reform, institutional strength and economic stability, we explore…
29 Oct 12PM 17 min

How South Africans Are Stretching Every Rand

South Africans are increasingly living two very different financial realities. New research from NielsenIQ reveals a growing consumer divide, with almost equal numbers reporting that they're either financially worse off or better off than a year ago. As inflation, food prices and household costs continue to bite, consumers are changing…
28 Oct 1PM 13 min

ECIC at 25: Reimagining South Africa's Export Future

As the Export Credit Insurance Corporation of South Africa (ECIC) marks 25 years of supporting exporters, newly appointed CEO Linda Seroka joins Kaya Biz to outline the institution's future vision. From supporting emerging exporters and SMMEs to exploring new trade opportunities in Asia and the Middle East, the discussion examines…
28 Oct 1PM 13 min