Unlocking Growth in Mpumalanga and Mozambique Through Business Connect Initiative

And up next we have Bill Blackie, the CEO of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank, discussing the Mpumalanga and Mozambique Business Connect initiative. Now this has the potential to unlock growth for both regions and interestingly it's focusing on agricultural. So let's join in on that conversation and have a word with Mr Blackie himself. So Bill, it makes sense, that Mozambique and South Africa should be engaging in cross-border activity. But how are you synchronising at Standard Bank to make it happen for the market? Good morning Zanelle and thank you to you and to your viewers. This initiative comes off the back of a conference that we hosted a couple of weeks ago, really talking about unlocking Africa's growth. So it was Africa Unlocked, looking towards the future, how we can get all the economies in Africa to grow more rapidly together. As you rightly point out, actually this corridor, this trade corridor between ultimately Kharteng through Mpumalanga down into Mozambique, has been operating for many, many years, right back to the 1800s. And so our focus here is, in addition to the infrastructure that we've got in both countries, so we've got very, very good and very substantial businesses in both countries, it's important to us actually just to get business people together. And that's what we're doing today, it's just making sure that we get business people together to engage, share their stories, communicate with one another, learn about the opportunities that they can leverage off together. So that's the context of our session. Thank you. And I think, you know, business really demonstrates in this instance, how it's the bedrock of, you know, economic activity. But then you also have those who sit in the government roles, you've got the Mpumalanga provincial head, you've also got the counterpart in Mozambique, Mr. Joarino Valente. What are their roles in this collaboration? So government plays a credibly important role, and it's wonderful to have them here with us. Because ultimately, they create that important part of the infrastructure that facilitates the trade, that allows us really to make sure that the channels are working smoothly and are open and available for people to trade through. I'm sure you're aware that at Standard Bank, we're a great supporter of initiatives such as the African Continental Free Trade Agreement. These are very important to reducing tariffs, reducing trade barriers, facilitating easier transmission of goods and services between the two countries. And so that's what our goal is, is to make sure that we bring those players or those important role players and stakeholders together to have conversations about what would unlock the future for us. Thank you, Bill. Let's zone in on the sectors. What sectors have got exponential room for growth for both sides? Yeah, so in this part of the world, it's primarily agriculture, transport, and then, of course, the extractive industries, such as mining. And that's where we're really focused at the moment, seeing how we can support those specific role players. As you'll be aware, agriculture in Pumalanga has been growing for many, many years. It's actually making the region as a whole one of the fastest growing sectors in South Africa. Mozambique has got incredible agricultural potential, great soil, great rainfall, et cetera. And so that's the connections we're looking to make. And they've got this beautiful season. They've got these beautiful four seasons in Mozambique, which is summer, summer, and more summer, and then a little bit more summer. So it really bodes well, even for tourism in the sector. Is tourism part of the strategy? And also, what are some of the long-term goals that you have for this Connect project? Yeah, without a doubt. I mean, it's not only Mozambique that's so beautiful, but of course, being here in the low felt, having come down from the high felt winter, it's wonderful to be here in the warmth. So tourism is a huge part of the opportunity, both in Mozambique and in South Africa. But ultimately, it's about making sure that we facilitate industrial growth. And so those role players that we want to really make sure that we as a bank facilitate the engagement. Now, ultimately, as a bank, we're an intermediary between these counterparties. And I think that it's going to be fantastic for you to be able to just be there and expand on all these opportunities. The proof is going to be in the pudding. We need to see what are some of the investment numbers and growth numbers that are going to come out of this particular project. But thank you for your time. I'm being told that's all I have time for today. That was Bill Blackie, CEO of Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank.

Bill Blackie, CEO of Business & Commercial Banking at Standard Bank, joins CNBC Africa to unpack the Mpumalanga and Mozambique Business Connect initiative and its potential to unlock growth in the region.

Mpumalanga meets Mozambique: Unlocking growth

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Mpumalanga meets Mozambique: Unlocking growth

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