from NJABULO MKHIZE in Durban, South Africa
KwaZulu Natal Bureau
DURBAN, (CAJ News) – IN the face of escalating global headwinds and pressures on trade flows, platforms that bridge businesses, financiers and policymakers are proving increasingly critical to driving inclusive growth across Africa.
One such initiative, Engage Trade Africa 2025, held in Durban from 27-30 October, gathered leaders from across the continent to focus on advancing market access, industrialisation and sustainable trade.
“For us based in KwaZulu-Natal — home to Durban harbour, one of South Africa’s most dynamic trade and tourism gateways — our participation is about real impact, not just presence,” said Rishaad Webster, Provincial Head of Business Banking (KZN) at Standard Bank Business and Commercial Banking.
“We are helping businesses to start, manage and grow their enterprises by unlocking working capital, enabling market access and building resilience against global trade pressures.”
South African enterprises continue to navigate a challenging operating environment marked by currency volatility, infrastructure bottlenecks and regulatory complexity.
According to the South African Revenue Service (SARS), the country posted a preliminary trade surplus of R4.0 billion in August 2025, with exports at R171.3 billion and imports at R167.4 billion — an indicator of resilience, even as structural pressures persist.
Micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) — which account for some 90 % of South African businesses — are particularly vulnerable to the so-called “trade credit squeeze”, with delayed payments affecting up to 30 % of trade credit-based sales.
Such realities only reinforce the value of events like Engage Trade Africa, which connect enterprises to actionable solutions, informed dialogue and trade-enabling finance tools.
“At Standard Bank we believe collaboration is foundational to Africa’s next wave of trade-led growth,” said Sithembile Dlamini, Head for Africa-China Banking at Standard Bank Business & Commercial Banking.
She cited the bank’s Africa China Trade Solutions (ACTS), developed in partnership with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), as an example of how African businesses can access new markets, strengthen liquidity and navigate cross-border complexity with confidence.
Dlamini highlighted the transformative potential of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which unites all 55 member states of the African Union in pursuit of a single continental market of approximately 1.4 billion people and a combined GDP of around US$3.4 trillion.
The AfCFTA aims to eliminate internal trade barriers, liberalise services, harmonise trade rules and foster regional value chains — all with the objective of helping African economies diversify, industrialise and integrate more fully into global supply chains. ([DTIC][1])
Under this agreement, intra-African trade gains momentum: for example, South Africa’s preferential exports under AfCFTA terms totalled approximately R820 million from January 2024 to March 2025, across sectors including mining equipment, appliances, food items, apparel and electrical machinery — with major destinations including Ghana, Kenya, Egypt, Rwanda, Cameroon and Algeria. ([DTIC][2])
Standard Bank supports businesses across multiple corridors and sectors — providing services ranging from supplier verification and inspections to logistics coordination and advisory support.
A recent client, NRS Solutions, utilised these trade facilitation services to import machinery through the bank’s ecosystem.
Meanwhile, digital platforms are reshaping trade relationships. Through its integration with ICBC’s business-matchmaker platform, Standard Bank enables local businesses to connect with global buyers and sellers — providing free listings, product visibility and access to more than 10 million potential corporate partners.
As African and South African businesses focus on international expansion, the emphasis is on transparent, strategic and digitally-enabled support — ensuring enterprises are not merely surviving in a competitive global environment, but thriving.
– CAJ News