British International Investment’s Post

"We have got to really send out a positive story about Africa" - Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, speaks about Africa 24’s role in promoting the continent's economic growth, innovation, and diverse opportunities to the global stage, helping to reshape perceptions and attract investment to the region. #Africa24 #Ecobank #JeremyAwori

"We have got to really send out a positive story about Africa" - Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, speaks about Africa 24’s role in promoting the continent's economic growth, innovation, and diverse opportunities to the global stage, helping to reshape perceptions and attract investment to the region. #Africa24 #Ecobank #JeremyAwori

"We have got to really send out a positive story about Africa" - Jeremy Awori, CEO of Ecobank Group, speaks about Africa 24’s role in promoting the continent's economic growth, innovation, and diverse opportunities to the global stage, helping to reshape perceptions and attract investment to the region. #Africa24 #Ecobank #JeremyAwori

🆕 Major move in West African banking: 🤝 AFG HOLDING to acquire Société Générale Guinée In a notable shift to expand its presence in #WestAfrica, AFG Holding will acquire a majority stake in Société Générale Guinée, subject to regulatory approval. 💻 AFG began acquiring bank branches across the continent four years ago. In 2020, the Group successfully acquired BNP Paribas branches in Mali, Gabon and the Comoros. On 17 September, AFG also completed the acquisition of the German microfinance network Access #Microfinance Holding GmbH. This strategic move underlines the increasing consolidation in the #Africanbanking industry and unlocks the potential for improved financial services across the region. 🚀 What impact do you see? 🔍

Stanbic And Ramani Partner To Endorse Domestic Trade. Stanbic Bank Tanzania has formed a strategic alliance with Ramani.io, a leading financial technology company, to improve local trade and expand financial inclusion in Tanzania. This collaboration combines Ramani's innovative technology solutions with Stanbic Bank's financial expertise to empower local entrepreneurs and streamline trade processes, thereby fueling economic growth. At the launch event, Fredrick Max, Stanbic Bank’s Head of Business and Commercial Banking stressed the crucial role of technology in enhancing financial inclusion and transforming domestic trade. He noted that the synergy between Ramani’s digital platforms and Stanbic Bank’s financial services is set to revolutionize the way trade is conducted in the country. Ramani CEO, Iain Usiri, added that their platform simplifies order management for distributors and enhances transparency in sales and inventory management, making it easier for Stanbic Bank to provide efficient loans. This partnership is a significant step towards digitizing Tanzania's value chains, addressing transparency issues that currently hinder the region's supply chains and financial accessibility. #StanbicBank #FinancialInclusion #Tanzania #FinTech #EconomicGrowth #DigitalTrade Photo: Fredrick Max with Iain Usiri | Stanbic Bank Tanzania.

Access Bank Plc has successfully acquired African Banking Corporation of Tanzania (ABCT) Limited, a subsidiary of Atlas Mara Ltd., further solidifying its presence in East Africa. This strategic move, initially announced in July 2023, aims to merge ABCT with Standard Chartered Bank Tanzania's consumer, private, and banking businesses, forming the new Access Bank Tanzania. The focus will be on customer satisfaction, financial inclusion, and technological advancement to drive growth and positive change in the region. Access Bank Managing Director Roosevelt Ogbonna expressed excitement about the opportunities this acquisition brings, emphasizing the goal of establishing a strong foundation for intra-African trade within East Africa and beyond. "We are eager to leverage our combined strengths to deliver exceptional financial solutions and experiences to our customers," he stated. This merger will enable Access Bank to enhance its service offerings and deliver greater value to its clients. Imani. John, Managing Director of ABCT, highlighted the benefits for customers, employees, and stakeholders. "The new entity is poised to enhance our service offerings, leveraging Access Bank’s extensive resources and expertise," he said. This acquisition marks the fourth deal between Access Bank and Atlas Mara, following previous successful acquisitions in Zambia, Mozambique, Botswana, and Tanzania. With recent acquisitions and strategic moves, Access Bank continues to strengthen its foothold in East Africa. The acquisition of ABCT aligns with Access Bank's vision and near-term strategy of targeting local, regional, and international revenue opportunities, particularly in trade and payments for East African customers. This bold expansion underscores Access Bank's commitment to driving financial inclusion and technological innovation across the continent. #AccessBank #FinancialInclusion #EastAfrica #BankingInnovation #TradeOpportunities #StrategicGrowth #AfricaBanking #TechAdvancement #CustomerSatisfaction #FinancialSolutions To read more: https://zurl.co/7UpI

#MSMEs play a crucial role in the Philippine economy, making up 99.5% of firms in the country, contributing about 40% of GDP and employing 65% of the labor force. However, access to finance remains a major challenge for entrepreneurs. CARD Bank, one of the largest microfinance institutions in the Philippines, has helped serve more than 1.4 million clients, of which 90% are women. Thanks to advisory support from IFC - International Finance Corporation, CARD Bank has been able to modernize its system and grow its footprint, increasing lending to MSMEs and helping more business owners access the finance they need to grow. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/eyKEcjzz CARD MRI, IFC Asia Pacific, SME Finance Forum, Managed by the IFC (International Finance Corporation)

Jamie Dimon, CEO of JPMorganChase, has embarked on an important trip across Africa, marking the bank’s strategic expansion into the continent. This visit follows J.P. Morgan's recent acquisition of licenses to establish representative offices in Nairobi, Kenya, and Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. As the world's largest bank, J.P. Morgan is poised to strengthen its presence in key African markets, reflecting a growing commitment to the region’s financial landscape. Reports indicate that Dimon is currently in Kenya for private meetings with central bank officials and other influential stakeholders. While his schedule does not include public events, his visit underscores the bank's intent to engage directly with local authorities and business leaders. Before Kenya, Dimon was in Nigeria and plans to continue his trip to South Africa, showcasing J.P. Morgan's focus on building relationships across the continent. At a private event in Abuja, Dimon expressed enthusiasm about opening J.P. Morgan’s first branch in Kenya, highlighting the significance of this expansion for the bank. The new offices in Kenya and Côte d’Ivoire are designed to enhance the bank’s capacity to cultivate essential relationships with governments, financial institutions, and corporations while serving as vital connections to its extensive global network. To lead operations in Kenya, J.P. Morgan has appointed Sailepu Montet, a former executive at the Central Bank of Kenya, as its new Country Manager. In Côte d’Ivoire, the Abidjan office will be headed by Michael Ahonzo Avou, who brings nearly two decades of financial markets experience in Sub-Saharan Africa. This leadership team is set to drive the bank’s strategic initiatives and growth in these key markets. #JPMorgan #JamieDimon #AfricaExpansion #Banking #FinancialServices #Kenya #CoteDIvoire #Leadership #GlobalNetwork #DigitalFinance https://zurl.co/aGdV

📈 [𝗥𝗢𝗨𝗡𝗗 𝗧𝗔𝗕𝗟𝗘] 𝗦𝗠𝗘 𝗳𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲: 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰 𝗽𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗽𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗮𝗴𝗲 ⚙️ Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are the backbone of African economies, driving employment, innovation, and growth. Yet, the financial industry has often seen them as too risky or costly to serve, leaving immense market potential untapped. 🗜️ This Strategic Roundtable at #AFIS 2024 explores how digital channels, enhanced data analytics, and innovative partnerships are transforming #SME finance. With perspectives from commercial banks, fintechs, telcos, and regulators, this session delves into the future of inclusive financial services for African SMEs. 🎙️ 𝗠𝗼𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆: ✨ Dahlia Khalifa, Regional Director, Central Africa & Anglophone West Africa, IFC - International Finance Corporation 💡 𝗘𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁 𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝗱𝗿𝗶𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗱𝗶𝘀𝗰𝘂𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻: ✨ Larry Anderson, Head of Financial Institutions and Development Organisations, Zambia National Commercial Bank (Zanaco) PLC ✨ Carol Oyedeji, Group Executive Commercial Banking, Ecobank Transnational Incorporated ✨ Sandersen Erik, NORDFUND ✨ Joëlle HAZOUME ALAO, Partnerships and Business Development Director, Orange Money Group ✨ Abdulmajid M. Nsekela, Group CEO & Managing Director, CRDB Bank Plc ✨ Abdel Aziz El Nabi, CEO & Co-Founder, Catalyst Partner 💡 𝗞𝗲𝘆 𝗾𝘂𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗹𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗱: ✔️ What are the critical success factors for building effective SME finance partnerships in the digital age? ✔️ How can digital solutions for SMEs be scaled to diverse African markets? ✔️ What role can policymakers play in ensuring SMEs in rural areas benefit from digital finance? This session is a unique opportunity to hear actionable insights from leaders reshaping SME financing across the continent. #afis2024 #SMEfinance #digitaltransformation #africanfinance #partnerships

Access Bank Plc expands its footprint in Africa with bold acquisitions of Standard Chartered operations in Angola and Sierra Leone! This move strengthens Access Bank's position in African banking while offering: ✅ More Market Reach: Enhanced presence in key markets. ✅Diverse Revenue Streams: Reducing reliance on single markets. ✅New Opportunities: Leveraging operational efficiencies and growth potential. #AccessBank isn’t stopping here. They’re also finalizing acquisitions in Cameroon, The Gambia, and Tanzania, advancing their vision of becoming the world’s most respected African bank. This milestone reflects Access Bank’s dedication to driving growth, innovation, and financial inclusion across the continent. Kudos to Access Holdings Plc and its subsidiaries like Hydrogen Payment Services, Access ARM Pensions, and Access Insurance Brokers for leading the way in reshaping Africa’s financial services landscape. Here is more: https://lnkd.in/dD42XBKs #AccessBank #AfricanBanking #FinancialInclusion #StandardChartered #PanAfricanExpansion