Standard Chartered eyes SA's fintech boom to deepen continental ties

STANDARD Chartered is seeking to pivot on South Africa's booming fintech sector to connect and bridge the country and the continent with international investors seeking exposure to the region.

- TAWANDA KAROMBO

Bill Winters, Standard Chartered's group CEO visited South Africa earlier this month as the bank views the country as a vital link to the rest of the continent.

Standard Chartered recently told Business Report that there is renewed investor interest in South Africa's renewable energy, IT, mining as well as finance. This was helping to shore up South Africa's robust merger and acquisition activity amid rising regulatory scrutiny guided by public interest concerns.

The country's advanced financial sector and stability in the regulatory sector was also helping restore some certainty to investors seeking mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals in the country.