Africa’s largest lender kicked of its annual Top Women Conference today where it aims to spotlight factors supporting and inhibiting the growth of women entrepreneurs. One of the talking points will be the role of banking and trade solutions in empowering female entrepreneurs and society. CNBC Africa joined by Thembi Dlamini, Head: Africa China Banking, Business and Commercial Banking, Standard Bank.
Africa′s largest lender kicked off its annual Top Women Conference today where it aims to spotlight factors supporting and inhibiting the growth of women entrepreneurs. One of the talking points will be the role of banking and trade solutions in empowering female entrepreneurs and society. Thembi Dlamini, Head of Africa China Banking, Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank, was in attendance at the conference. In fact, she was a speaker in the opening panel that aimed to address just that. Thembi, welcome. Thanks so much for your time. So, I mean, often we look at the role or the position of women in most key sectors of the economy and the common narrative that we do get is that they are severely or significantly underrepresented when it does come to their male counterparts. But perhaps give us the picture as you see it right now or as you assess it to be right now when it does come to trade, for instance. And how do you assess the presence of women right now? And I suppose, more importantly, the trend that you have seen in the recent while. Good afternoon, Fifi, and good afternoon to your viewers. I think it's been such an exciting day for us here at the Standard Bank Top Women Conference where entrepreneurs were able to connect with like-minded entrepreneurs and also have the opportunity to engage various experts and industry leaders with tools that are really invaluable and that are going to help them start, grow and manage their business. And also just sticking to the theme of the conference, which is really rising above the noise. And I think just leading on that topic of rising above the noise, it's really essentially what you touched on in terms of barriers to trade, particularly for women owned businesses. And some of the inhibitors of growth, you're looking at your social norms, your unconscious bias and just lack of exposure to some of the male dominated sectors. But also time and capital constraints are some of the things that we've seen holding back women in terms of looking at internationalizing and looking at various bigger markets and opportunities. Just given your role, I mean, your portfolio speaks to the heart of the topic at hand here, just looking at the role of banking solutions in empowering women in trade in Africa, in the world and specifically in Africa, Tembi, when we know that the narrative right now is on a united Africa and trying to increase the level of intra-Africa trade. In your view and just based on the women that come into your office or the applications that you do get, you as a team, what are some of the key challenges that are inhibiting their further participation in the space? But I suppose more importantly, how is a bank like Standard Bank trying to solve for them in terms of solutions? Well, we work towards turning possibilities into opportunities across the continent through some of our market leading trade solutions. We are present in over 20 countries in Africa and as you touched on it, it's really a focus of us, particularly looking at driving intra-Africa trade and how we partner with some of our clients in terms of helping them grow in those markets. I think it's really creating that market access, but also empowering them with information to make the right decisions around market entry, the risk mitigating strategies that they can utilize. We have recently launched the fourth edition of our trade barometer that focuses on about 10 of our markets, where it's a study based on market research of small businesses that are on the ground. Particularly given that we are also on the ground, we have those valuable insights that we can also just provide to our clients to be able to make the right business decisions around competitor analysis, how they actually go into a market, some of the partners that they can engage with, looking at reputable business partners and some of the stakeholders that they can work with in those markets. I believe that China is really a market that we've gotten to know very well. We've been in China for about 19 years this year and we've really used the platform through our relationship with the Industrial Commercial Bank of China to allow our clients to access the Chinese market and mitigate some of the risks that they would face. Either whether you're exporting into the Chinese market or importing from the Chinese market. And that gives you the regulatory landscape, but also gives you just an overview of how to position your product or position your service when you're going into that market. And when you look at the Chinese market, which is very diverse and complex, you really need to position and brand your product and service in a way that would actually link you into the market. And you are then able to either entrench your business and grow. Sure. And I'm glad that you touched on China because you're touching on the narrative where we have seen a desire for more a South-South trade. As it were, our positioning in the BRICS as an African continent is seen as something that can and should be enabling more of that. Where across the trade value chain, Tembi, do you see the most opportunities for women to raise their hand and participate more than is presently the case? I think there is a lot of encouragement around navigating some of the male-dominated industries, transportation, electronic vehicles. I was actually chatting to a client of ours earlier who's in that industry that has partnered with a Chinese firm and really looking at how do we then utilize the technology and the know-how to actually bring it in market and establish it and grow as a woman-led SME in South Africa. So those would then be where we come in as a bank to be able to facilitate those networking opportunities. We have just come from the China International Input Expo, again looking at how do we help our clients then who want to export into China, particularly looking at the agricultural industries. We participated in the China International Input Expo and really gave them the ability to showcase their product but also engage Chinese buyers and also understand the regulatory requirements where trade protocols are either in place or not in place, whether they have the opportunity to actually sell into the Chinese market. I think those are key solutions that we put in place that essentially empower woman-led businesses or even just small SMEs to be able to go into a market that they would not ordinarily have the tools to navigate on their own. All right, a really interesting conversation, one of course that I have vested interest in, but thanks so much for giving us a little bit of color as to what is happening and of course the opportunities that are present right now for women entrepreneurs. Tembi Lamini, the Head of Africa, China Banking, Business and Commercial Banking over at the Standard Bank Group.
Theme: Empowering Female Entrepreneurs Through Banking and Trade Solutions
Standard Bank's annual Top Women Conference commenced today with a focus on shedding light on the factors that support and impede the growth of women entrepreneurs. The event aims to highlight the crucial role of banking and trade solutions in empowering female entrepreneurs and society as a whole. Thembi Dlamini, Head of Africa China Banking, Business and Commercial Banking at Standard Bank, participated in the conference as a speaker on the opening panel. She discussed the current landscape for women in trade, the challenges they face, and the efforts being made to enable their participation and success. Reflecting on the state of women in the economy, Dlamini pointed out that women are often underrepresented compared to their male counterparts in various sectors, including trade. She highlighted barriers such as social norms, unconscious bias, lack of exposure to male-dominated industries, time constraints, and limited access to capital as hurdles that hinder the growth of women-owned businesses. Despite these challenges, the conference provided a platform for entrepreneurs to connect with like-minded individuals, industry experts, and leaders to equip them with the necessary tools for business success. Dlamini emphasized the critical role of banking solutions in empowering women in trade, especially in the context of driving intra-Africa trade. Standard Bank, operating in over 20 African countries, focuses on providing market-leading trade solutions to support clients in expanding their businesses across the continent. These solutions include market access, decision-making information, risk mitigation strategies, and valuable insights gathered through initiatives like the Trade Barometer. The bank's longstanding presence in China, spanning 19 years, has enabled them to facilitate access to the Chinese market for their clients. Through partnerships with institutions like the Industrial Commercial Bank of China, Standard Bank offers support in navigating the regulatory landscape, positioning products and services effectively, and mitigating risks associated with trading with China. By leveraging their expertise and network, Standard Bank empowers women entrepreneurs and SMEs to establish a foothold in international markets. Dlamini also discussed the opportunities for women in male-dominated industries such as transportation and technology. She highlighted the importance of networking and collaboration in sectors where women are underrepresented, noting the bank's role in facilitating partnerships and showcasing products at events like the China International Import Expo. These initiatives provide women-led businesses with the tools and connections needed to enter new markets and grow their enterprises. In conclusion, Dlamini's insights underscore the importance of empowering female entrepreneurs through tailored banking and trade solutions. By addressing barriers, providing support, and fostering opportunities for women in trade, Standard Bank is playing a pivotal role in advancing gender equality and economic growth in Africa and beyond.
"I think there is a lot of encouragement around navigating some of the male-dominated industries, transportation, electronic vehicles... So those would then be where we come in as a bank to be able to facilitate those networking opportunities."
Standard Bank, Top Women Conference, female entrepreneurs, banking solutions, trade solutions, Africa, women in trade, gender equality, economic growth