Standard Bank at GTR 2025: Enabling the next era of African trade finance

As Africa’s economic landscape evolves, so does the need for access to strategic trade finance solutions. It has never been more critical to have the right support structures in place. The event will explore topics that impact businesses across the continent, including geopolitical shifts, working capital optimisation, infrastructure financing and digital trade solutions.

Key themes and essential discussions at GTR 2025

This year’s conference will explore several important themes that are reshaping African trade and investment:

• The impact of shifting macroeconomics and geopolitics: Africa’s trade and investment landscape is deeply influenced by global geopolitical realignments, shifting economic policies and evolving trade corridors. From the Middle East’s expanding trade ties with Africa to ESG-driven investment flows, discussion panels at GTR will explore the risks and opportunities arising from foreign bank retrenchment, decreasing the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) export credit agency (ECA) financing and new sources of trade liquidity on the continent.
• Trade and working capital optimisation strategies: Liquidity challenges remain a top priority for corporate treasurers and financial institutions, especially as businesses across Africa expand their trade relationships. GTR panellists will examine practical strategies for optimising working capital, including the use of trade loans, supply chain finance and borrowing base facilities. The discussions will also explore regulatory and technology trends impacting trade finance adoption across Africa.
• Bridging Africa’s social infrastructure gap: ECAs continue to play a crucial role in financing Africa’s infrastructure, including sectors such as healthcare, education and public utilities. However, evolving OECD policies and shifts in global ECA financing markets are influencing how and where funding is allocated. Discussions will explore how ECAs, development finance institutions and private sector players can collaborate to expand funding access, improve affordability and ensure that essential social projects receive the financial backing needed to drive sustainable development.
• Commodity finance and agritech innovation: Africa’s commodity-driven economies continue to evolve, with agritech innovations transforming agricultural value chains. From warehouse receipt financing to climate-smart technologies, panellists will explore how innovative financial structures and digital solutions are reshaping commodity production, trade and financing mechanisms to ensure greater food security, export growth and economic resilience.
• Extractive industry as an AfCFTA enabler: As intra-African trade gains momentum under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), the extractive sector is poised to play a critical role in regional industrialisation. Infrastructure projects such as the Lobito Corridor linking Angola, Zambia and the DRC exemplify how investment in transport, logistics and processing facilities can unlock cross-border trade efficiencies and drive sustainable growth in the minerals and energy sector.
• Digital traction ‒ The rapidly changing world of trade: The digitalisation of trade finance is advancing rapidly, with innovations such as AI-driven document processing, evolving trade compliance frameworks and alternative trade settlement mechanisms reshaping transaction flows. Discussions will explore the progress of regulatory developments, the adoption of e-bills, the role of stablecoins in trade finance and how emerging technologies can enhance compliance, efficiency and financial accessibility across African markets. 

By delving into these themes, GTR Africa 2025 aims to equip businesses with the knowledge and tools needed to navigate trade challenges and seize new opportunities for economic growth in Africa’s evolving landscape.

Expert African trade finance insights from Standard Bank

At the GTR Africa 2025 conference, our experts will provide in-depth analysis on pivotal topics shaping Africa’s trade and infrastructure.

Trade and working capital optimisation

Speaker: Justin Milo, Head of Trade, South Africa

Session: Tried and tested: A holistic approach to trade and working capital optimisation

As African business increasingly shift to open account trade, the role of trade finance and working capital solutions has never been more critical. Ensuring liquidity across supply chains is essential, yet regulatory barriers, infrastructure gaps and evolving risk landscapes continue to pose challenges around optimising trade cycles.

This discussion will provide a practical, solutions-driven approach to trade and working capital optimisation, exploring how businesses can effectively deploy structured finance tools to support their cash conversion cycles. Key topics include the following:

• Aligning corporate treasury priorities with market realities: In an environment where cash flow volatility remains a concern, businesses must assess how structured trade finance solutions can enhance liquidity and mitigate funding risks.
• Maximising the value of financing instruments: Whether through trade loans, supply chain finance or borrowing base facilities, companies must understand the optimal application of each tool within their working capital strategy.
• Addressing regulatory and risk considerations in African trade finance: Compliance frameworks across Africa are evolving, and businesses must navigate shifting policies, digital trade adoption trends and financial risk factors to ensure sustainable financing structures.

By leveraging our extensive market expertise, we continue to support African businesses in developing robust trade finance strategies, enabling greater working capital efficiency, risk mitigation and resilience in global trade networks.

Export credit agencies and social infrastructure

Speaker: Greg Fyfe, Head of ECA & Agency Finance

Session: ECA flexibility ‒ A question of positive impact

ECAs have long played a vital role in facilitating trade and infrastructure development across Africa. However, recent OECD rule changes have primarily focused on enhancing financing for projects with strong environmental credentials, leaving many high-impact social infrastructure projects underserved. Given that social infrastructure, including healthcare, education and public utilities, accounts for the majority of ECA-backed deals in Africa, ensuring equitable financing support is essential for achieving long-term, sustainable development on the continent.

This panel will examine the policy shifts and structural changes needed to expand ECA-backed financing for social infrastructure while maintaining financial stability. Key discussion points include the following:

• Impact of export credit financing as a development financing tool for social projects: Evaluating the role that ECAs can play in supporting social infrastructure investment across Africa
• Measuring social impact in financing: Developing clear impact measurement frameworks to ensure ECA-backed projects align with sustainable development goals
• Challenges preventing closer collaboration between ECAs and development financiers: Addressing regulatory and structural barriers that hinder financing availability
• Potential policy shifts to enhance social infrastructure financing: Exploring changes to OECD arrangements, eligibility criteria and financial structures to make social projects more attractive to investors.

As a leading financier of Africa’s trade and infrastructure projects, we continue to work closely with ECAs, policymakers and corporate stakeholders to design innovative financing solutions that drive inclusive economic growth. This session will offer insight into how evolving ECA policies can unlock new opportunities for businesses, investors and governments alike.

Join the conversation at GTR Africa 2025

The GTR Africa 2025 conference presents a unique opportunity to gain market intelligence, engage with industry peers and explore financing solutions that drive trade and investment across the continent.

As Africa’s leading trade finance partner, we remain dedicated to supporting businesses through innovative financing solutions, deep market expertise and strategic advisory services that enable sustainable growth.

For more details on GTR Africa 2025, visit the official event page.