By: Nana
Appiah Acquaye
President William Ruto has
met Standard Bank Group Chief Executive Sim Tshabalala and senior executives in
discussions focused on Kenya’s economic growth ambitions, infrastructure
development and the role of public-private partnerships in mobilising capital
for sustainable development.
The engagement provided an
opportunity to review progress since the leaders’ previous meeting and reaffirm
Standard Bank Group’s commitment to supporting Kenya’s economic transformation.
A key focus of the
discussions was the mobilisation of capital towards projects capable of
delivering both economic and social impact. Tshabalala reaffirmed the group’s
commitment to mobilising ZAR 450 billion in sustainable finance by 2028 to
support initiatives that promote sustainable growth and improve livelihoods
across Africa.
The discussions also covered
Kenya’s infrastructure priorities, including collaboration with the National
Infrastructure Fund (NIF) to mobilise private capital for strategic
infrastructure projects.
Standard Bank Group said
stronger public-private partnerships would be important in converting Kenya’s
development priorities into projects capable of attracting long-term investment
and delivering broad economic benefits.
The meeting also highlighted
the importance of strengthening the narrative around Kenya and Africa by
showcasing the continent’s progress, resilience and investment potential to
global investors.
Tshabalala further
emphasised the importance of stronger African financial institutions in
building the capacity required to finance the continent’s growth from within.
Standard Bank Group said it
remains committed to connecting capital with opportunities, supporting
enterprises and partnering with stakeholders to advance inclusive growth in
Kenya and across Africa.
