Standard Bank Group urges reforms, increased investment to power Africa’s economic growth

Standard Bank Group has called for structural reforms and increased investment in infrastructure and energy to support Africa’s economic growth. This it did during the inaugural African Markets Conference (AMC) held in South Africa.

Previously hosted in London, the 2025 conference was relocated to Stellenbosch in line with the group’s strategy to anchor its initiatives on the continent.

Held under the theme “Unlocking Capital, Powering Growth – Financing Africa’s Future,” the conference brought together African and international investors, policymakers, regulators, and financial experts to explore ways of financing Africa’s development priorities.

Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking Chief Executive Officer, Luvuyo Masinda, said Africa must move beyond perceptions of risk and focus on leveraging its assets, including critical mineral reserves, mobile banking leadership, and a growing youthful population.

Masinda said in a statement issued in Lusaka on Tuesday that Africa’s GDP growth was projected at four percent in 2025 and 4.5 percent in 2026, supported by infrastructure development and the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

He urged governments to close the infrastructure gap using innovative financing models and to address energy deficits that continue to constrain growth across the continent.

He added that modern energy use remained low despite the continent holding vast resources.

Stanbic Bank Zambia Senior Vice President for Public Sector, Sylvia Lumbwe, led a Zambian delegation comprising officials from the Ministry of Finance and the Bank of Zambia.

She said Zambia’s participation in the conference was part of efforts to align with Africa’s development agenda, citing targets to raise copper production to 3 million tonnes annually, expand energy generation to 10GW, and improve regional transport links.

Lumbwe claimed that Zambia’s economy had shown resilience in mining and agriculture, with GDP expected to grow from 1.2 percent in 2024 to four percent in 2025, and the IMF projecting up to 6.6 percent.

WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.