NOW Ep90: Davos Debrief part 2: Trade & investment in a multi-bilateral world

Loading player...
In the second episode of our Davos special edition, Investec guests Nick Riley, head of Investment Banking, and Dhiren Mansingh, head of Business Transactional Banking, discuss a significant shift in global trade from multi-lateralism to multi-bilateralism. This evolution places less emphasis on regional agreements and more on establishing direct bilateral relationships between countries. Our experts delve into how this transition impacts trade dynamics and how countries and companies can extract growth in an ever-changing environment.

Podcast key moments:

00:00 – Introduction
01:44 – What’s the sentiment on the ground in Davos?
04:18 – Is the weakest long-term growth outlook of developing economies on the agenda?
05:15 - What strategies can South African importers and exporters adopt to navigate these challenging conditions and seize potential trade opportunities?
07:17 – The risk of imported inflation
08:49 - How can South Africa attract investment in this challenging environment?
10:30 - What criteria will we use to evaluate the success of SA narrative, and how will we define what constitutes investment success?
11:51 – What is the current appetite among banks to finance these large-scale infrastructure projects in South Africa?
13:23 – What other vital investments should we consider, that will bolster South Africa’s growth?
14:26 - Are you spotting any potential opportunities for South African businesses amid trade challenges?
16:06 - What opportunities do you see for your corporate clients in this environment?
16:51 - How can technology facilitate the scaling of trade, and what specific mechanisms do you see at play?
18:24 - How is technology influencing this sector?
19:12 - Any talks or sessions you’re most looking forward to attending this week?

Read more on www.investec.com/now

Hosted by seasoned broadcaster, Jeremy Maggs, the No Ordinary Wednesday podcast unpacks the latest economic, business and political news in South Africa, with an all-star cast of investment and wealth managers, economists and financial planners from Investec. Listen in every second Wednesday for an in-depth look at what's moving markets, shaping the economy, and changing the game for your wallet and your business.
Chapters
  • 00:00 Introduction
  • 01:44 What’s the sentiment on the ground in Davos?
  • 04:18 Is the weakest long-term growth outlook of developing economies on the agenda?
  • 05:15 What strategies can South African importers and exporters adopt to navigate these challenging conditions and seize potential trade opportunities?
  • 07:17 The risk of imported inflation
  • 08:49 How can South Africa attract investment in this challenging environment?
  • 10:30 What criteria will we use to evaluate the success of SA narrative, and how will we define what constitutes investment success?
  • 11:51 What is the current appetite among banks to finance these large-scale infrastructure projects in South Africa?
  • 13:23 What other vital investments should we consider, that will bolster South Africa’s growth?
  • 14:26 Are you spotting any potential opportunities for South African businesses amid trade challenges?
  • 16:06 What opportunities do you see for your corporate clients in this environment?
  • 16:51 How can technology facilitate the scaling of trade, and what specific mechanisms do you see at play?
  • 18:24 How is technology influencing this sector?
  • 19:12 Any talks or sessions you’re most looking forward to attending this week?
21 Jan 2025 English South Africa Business · Investing

Other recent episodes

What Next? Bridging the trust gap

In this episode of What Next?, Professor Mike Kenny (Cambridge) and Jacinta Koolmatrie examine the breakdown of trust between communities and institutions. They discuss how centralised governance and economic shifts have driven local grievances, and argue that rebuilding trust requires sharing power, working at community pace, and supporting locally led…
2 Apr 52 min

NOW Ep124: A crude awakening for inflation?

Interest rate cuts were meant to define 2026. Now, markets are bracing for hikes. In this episode of No Ordinary Wednesday, Investec’s Chief Economists Annabel Bishop and Phil Shaw examine how the energy shock is forcing central banks to reconsider their path. From London to Pretoria, policymakers face a familiar…
31 Mar 24 min

Macro Monday Ep110: Little sign of a near-term end to the war

With little sign of an early resolution to the war in the Middle East, supply constraints on commodities such as oil, gas, and helium may well endure. Chris Holdsworth Chief Investment Strategist, at Investec Wealth & Investment International notes that fuel prices likely to feed through quickly into consumer inflation,…
30 Mar 8 min

What Next? | Making the transition investable

Clean and green growth has moved from ambition to execution, but the challenge is one of pace. Investment conditions are key: predictable rules, credible pathways, and coordination across value chains, finance and government. This episode of What Next? Leadership Conversations for a Better Future, Helena Norrman, Marina Grossi, and Sang-Hyup…
27 Mar 35 min

Everything Counts | Episode 44: What the new 2026 tax allowances mean for you?

The new tax year is here, and the 2026 Budget Speech introduced important changes that could reshape how South Africans save, invest, and plan for retirement. In this episode of Everything Counts, host Motheo Khoaripe sits down with Vumi Dludlu, Investec financial adviser, and Johan Loubser, head of adviser enablement…
23 Mar 18 min