Standard Bank Continues to Drive African SMEs’ Trade-Led Growth: Interview With Sithembile Dlamini and Rishaad Webster
Standard Bank Continues to Drive African SMEs’ Trade-Led Growth: Interview With Sithembile Dlamini and Rishaad Webster. Following the recent Engage Trade Africa 2025 event in KwaZulu-Natal, we sat down with Sithembile Dlamini, Head for Africa China Banking, and Rishaad Webster, Provincial Head of Business Banking (KZN), both leaders at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking. Their insights offer a rare window into how Standard Bank is actively shaping Africa’s SME landscape, helping businesses expand across borders while building resilience in an increasingly digital economy. In this conversation, they share strategies for enabling market access, fostering digital inclusion, and supporting trade-led growth, critical considerations for entrepreneurs navigating Africa’s dynamic business environment. Read all about it below!
Engage Trade Africa 2025 brought together key players in the continent’s trade ecosystem. What were some of the most significant outcomes or discussions from the event that align with Standard Bank’s vision for SME growth?
Standard Bank was proud to support this year’s Engage Trade Africa, hosted in the strategic economic hub of KwaZulu-Natal (KZN). Home to South Africa’s largest ports, Durban Harbour and Richards Bay, KZN contributes 16.7% to the national GDP, driven by manufacturing, agriculture, and logistics. Our long-standing belief in this region is why we partner with local businesses to help them start, manage, and grow. Through our full-service offering and digital capabilities, we enable market access, a key priority for the bank. Our partnership with Engage Trade Africa directly connects our clients with international buyers from across Africa, turning potential into growth.
Rishaad Webster mentioned that Standard Bank’s involvement in such initiatives is about “impact and not just visibility.” Could you elaborate on the tangible impact you aim to achieve for SMEs through partnerships like this one?
Standard Bank’s involvement in initiatives like Engage Trade Africa is about creating measurable impact for SMEs by removing barriers and enabling growth. We do this by providing tailored working capital solutions such as Supply Chain and Receivables Finance to turn liquidity constraints into opportunities, while leveraging our Africa China Trade Solutions and partnership with ICBC to de-risk cross-border trade and connect SMEs to credible buyers and manufacturers.
Through digital platforms like the ICBC Business Matchmaker, we help businesses secure international partnerships efficiently, and programmes such as the KZN Exporters Readiness initiative build export capability, certification, and compliance, culminating in real market access opportunities like showcasing products at global expos. These interventions collectively ensure SMEs are not just visible but equipped to scale sustainably across Africa and into international markets.
Many SMEs struggle with delayed payments and access to working capital. How is Standard Bank addressing the “Trade Credit Squeeze” and helping small businesses.
At BCB, we know every business has unique requirements. Our role as Standard Bank is to provide tailored working capital solutions that closely align to your strategy and balance sheet.
Through sophisticated instruments like Supply Chain and Receivables Finance, we deliver strategic advantages, that unlock Capacity for growth. turn working capital into a catalyst, not a constraint, allowing clients to seize every opportunity, and accelerate revenue.
Access to finance can optimise the cash conversion cycle for businesses, ensuring faster and improved liquidity, freeing up capital for its most productive uses. Businesses can ensure operational agility by securing short-term funding needs so they can focus on driving their business forward.
The press release references the Africa China Trade Solutions (ACTS) partnership with ICBC. Could you unpack how this solution helps SMEs gain access to international markets, particularly China?
For nearly two decades, we have pioneered in the Africa-China trade corridor by partnering with China’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) and launching market-leading solutions to simplify, enable and de-risk trade between the two regions.
With the Africa China Trade Solutions (ACTS), we offer unmatched Africa-China trade solutions, with on-the-ground teams, deep sectoral experience, and strong partnerships in place with governments and businesses in Africa and China. Standard Bank is positioned to link Businesses to growth opportunities in the African and Chinese economies, while also assisting them to navigate complex financial and regulatory cross-border environments.
Our Export proposition is a first-of-its-kind solution, designed to help businesses navigate the complex exporting process and ensure the successful expansion of their businesses into the Chinese export market. The import proposition is designed to help Africa’s industrialisation ensuring that our clients are connected to credible equipment manufacturers in China.
Providing product samples where needed, enabling imports of any volume your market demands, implementing robust fraud mitigation measures, while facilitating payments.
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) offers major opportunities for intra-African trade. How is Standard Bank positioning itself to support SMEs in taking advantage of this shift?
The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) represents a transformative milestone for the continent’s economic integration and growth. By connecting 1.3 billion people across 55 countries with a combined GDP of approximately US$3.4 trillion, the AfCFTA establishes one of the world’s largest free trade areas.
As Africa’s largest bank, Standard Bank is uniquely positioned to connect businesses to growth opportunities across the African continent. Our established network enables you to import goods and export to Africa’s fastest-growing regions. Businesses that are looking to participate in intra-African trade, can leverage Standard Bank’s Business and Commercial Bank’s 14 country footprint across Africa, to create a seamless cross-border ecosystem.
Digital transformation is increasingly reshaping trade. Could you share how Standard Bank’s integration with ICBC’s digital matchmaker platform has improved connectivity and trade efficiency for African businesses?
The Business Matchmaker Platform is a cross-border trade platform focused on Africa-China matches provided by our strategic partner and the world’s largest bank, the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). The integration of the Business Matchmaker Platform allows Standard Bank clients to access the ICBC Platform and register their business profiles for opportunities to engage with ICBC clients in China and 49 other countries and regions with ICBC institution. Clients can identify suitable foreign importers and exporters, and access experts to assist with offshore production and marketing, as well as trade administration and logistics management.
With SMEs representing over 90% of South African businesses, what are the key challenges you still see hindering their global competitiveness — and how is Standard Bank helping to bridge those gaps?
Many small and medium enterprises continue to face structural and operational constraints that limit their ability to grow and compete internationally. Challenges such as navigating compliance, improving operational efficiency, managing cash flow, and integrating into formal supply chains remain widespread. Slower digital adoption and the rising cost of doing business also weigh heavily on performance and sustainability.
Access to affordable finance continues to be a key challenge, particularly for businesses without long trading histories or collateral. At Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking, we address these barriers through tailored solutions such as BizFlex, which provides flexible working capital, and MyMoBiz for everyday business banking. Our all-in-one SimplyBLU platform enables SMEs to accept digital payments and trade online, while our business insurance products help entrepreneurs manage operational risk and protect their assets. We also offer cash management solutions that support liquidity, improve efficiency and optimise working capital.
Beyond financial products, we are helping businesses future-proof their operations through sustainable solutions, from funding clean energy transitions to promoting resource-efficient business practices. Through the Enterprise and Supplier Development (ESD) programme, we continue to build governance, capacity, and market readiness among SMEs. Our insights-driven tools, including the Africa Trade Barometer, help open access to key trade corridors across intra-Africa, China, Europe and even the USA.
By combining financial access, operational support and sustainable market connectivity, we are enabling businesses to strengthen their foundations, scale confidently and contribute to a more resilient and competitive African economy.
The success story of NRS Solutions importing machinery through your facilitation ecosystem was mentioned. Could you share more examples of SMEs that have benefited from these trade support services?
Standard Bank’s trade-facilitation ecosystem enables many SMEs to participate meaningfully in both regional and global trade. Our approach combines financial solutions, non-financial interventions, market access, digital tools and data-driven insights to simplify cross-border trade and expand opportunity for African enterprises.
Through our Trade Suite, many SMEs can manage every stage of their import and export activity in one digital environment. The platform provides access to letters of credit, foreign-exchange management, documentary collections, and specialist advisory support. It also incorporates business-matchmaking and buyer-vetting services, connecting clients with pre-screened and trusted international partners, reducing risk and accelerating deal flow.
Our Trade and Working Capital Finance offering complements this by unlocking liquidity, protecting cash flow and helping enterprises manage working-capital cycles linked to international orders.
We further strengthen SME competitiveness through capability-building. The Export Readiness Programme, run with the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry, equips businesses, particularly in KwaZulu-Natal with training, compliance guidance and market-linkage support to enter and sustain trade relationships.
Our Africa-China Trade Solutions (ACTS) ecosystem, built in partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), expands this matchmaking capability on a continental scale. Through ACTS, African exporters and importers are connected to verified Chinese buyers and suppliers via a trusted digital platform. The partnership also supports SME participation at flagship trade events such as the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and the China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE), opening new distribution and investment channels for African goods in global markets.
Regionally, we promote intra-African and global exposure through industry showcases such as the Chenin Blanc Top 10 Challenge, where winning producers present their wines at ProWine Shanghai, one of the world’s largest trade fairs for wine and spirits.
Our commitment also extends to enabling intra-African trade under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). We actively engage in initiatives that address infrastructure and logistics constraints, improve cross-border payment systems and open up regional trade routes, laying the groundwork for a more connected and efficient African market.
Supporting this strategy is the Africa Trade Barometer, a proprietary research index providing insights into trade sentiment, flows and readiness across 10 African countries. The data informs businesses and policymakers on where to invest, where constraints persist and how to build sustainable trade ecosystems across the continent.
Together, these initiatives show how Standard Bank’s trade-support ecosystem combines finance, research, technology, trusted networks and non-financial interventions to empower African SMEs to trade smarter, connect safely and compete successfully in global value chains.
Sustainability and inclusivity are major themes in modern trade. How does Standard Bank integrate these principles into its trade and finance strategy to ensure long-term, equitable growth?
The KZN Exporters Readiness Programme was launched in June of this year to equip emerging exporters for international markets. This comprehensive 12-week initiative builds capacity in key areas, including:
- Export finance
- Product standards, SABS certification, and SARS export registration
- Africa-China trade dynamics, AfCFTA benefits, and rules of origin
- Trade protocols, market insights, and logistics
The first cohort graduated in October. The top five performers—all Standard Bank clients—were each awarded a grant to invest in their businesses and a coveted opportunity to showcase their products in China. They will exhibit at the China International Import Expo (CIIE) and Food and Hospitality China (FHC) in November 2025, gaining direct access to the Chinese market and meetings with vetted importers.
The programme is delivered in partnership with Standard Bank’s Enterprise Development team and the South African Chamber of Commerce and Industry. This is a direct reflection of Standard Bank’s commitment to inclusive growth, empowering SMEs for successful international market expansion.
Lastly, what advice would you give to emerging African entrepreneurs who want to expand into international markets but feel constrained by regulatory or financial barriers?
One of the most important pieces of advice is this: Your expansion is not a solo mission. It is a partnership-driven strategy. Build Your “Export Brain Trust”: Your team should include your banker (specializing in trade finance), your logistics partner (freight forwarder), and a mentor who has done it before.
Do not try to conquer a continent at once. Choose one target country, achieve success there, learn the intricacies of international trade, and then use that credibility to expand to the next.
Your Bank is a Strategic Partner. At Standard Bank Our purpose is to drive Africa’s growth, which includes, enabling African businesses to expand their global footprint and unlock new market opportunities.
A bank with a strong trade and transactional banking division, such as Standard Bank should be your first stop for advice. Standard Bank can actively support market access by:
• Connecting clients across Africa, unlocking new market opportunities by facilitating connections not just globally but within the continent, unlocking new market opportunities.
•Providing access to information: Addressing the information gaps that often hinder trade. For instance, the Standard Bank Africa Trade Barometer is a valuable tool that provides insights and data to help clients navigate the complexities of African markets.
The barriers you see are real, but they are not unique. The most successful exporting entrepreneurs are those who learn to navigate them systematically by building a strong support ecosystem around their business.
