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

Funding the SMME Hustle: Traditional Meets Alternative Finance

Old Mutual’s Ndumiso Zulu and Lula’s Clinton Thomas unpack the real funding landscape for South African SMEs — from cash‑flow pressure to investment readiness, construction‑sector bottlenecks, and why only 6% of SMEs access formal finance. They explore how blended support, alternative lending models, and faster payment cycles can unlock the…
22 Jun 4PM 26 min

SMME Playbook: Founder’s Mindset with Lesetja Dikgale

Michanic founder Lesetja Dikgale shares how a simple moment of frustration with a delayed car repair sparked a national mobile‑mechanic platform. He unpacks the early mistakes, the operational rebuild, the financial model overhaul, and how the Impact Finance Network helped him become investor‑ready. A masterclass in starting lean, scaling smart,…
22 Jun 4PM 16 min

SANEDI on Key AEF Takeaways critical for South Africa's Energy Future

Prof. Sampson Mamphweli, the Head of the Energy Secretariat at the South African National Energy Development Institute (SANEDI), joins us for his view on South Africa's future. He unpacks policy and project-based initiatives that came to the fore on the agenda at this week's Africa Energy Forum.
18 Jun 3PM 11 min

Africa’s Power Market Is Learning to Share: AEF 2026 Highlights

From Uganda’s first independent transmission project to South Africa’s R440bn grid expansion plan, AEF 2026 showcased a continent shifting toward private‑sector participation and distributed energy. Absa CIB's Nikhil Kasiram breaks down the biggest trends shaping Africa’s power future.
18 Jun 3PM 12 min

Pivot Point: BrightRock at 15 and CEO Stevens on Leading the Next Chapter

BrightRock celebrates 15 years of disrupting the life insurance industry with its needs‑matched model. CEO Suzanne Stevens reflects on her leadership journey, the company’s growth to over 12% market share, and the future of life insurance in a rapidly changing consumer landscape.
18 Jun 3PM 18 min