Standard Chartered launches 'Here for Africa' campaign

Accra, July 28, GNA - Standard Chartered Bank, has launched a brand new campaign reiterating its commitment to investing in Africa's future, and continuing to support key growth sectors across local economies, including infrastructure, telecommunications, transport, retail and trade.

Dubbed: 'Here for Africa,' the new brand campaign would enable the bank to step up investment and leverage its unique footprint and international banking expertise to drive growth in Africa.

Under the bank's refreshed global strategy, announced late last year, it reiterated its heightened focus on Africa, seeking to grow its business across all markets, with a keen focus on Corporate and Commercial segments.

Speaking in Ghana at the launch of the Africa-focused campaign, Mr Sunil Kaushal, the Regional CEO of Africa & Middle East said the campaign is about the bank's show of commitment and confidence in a continent that it has been in for more than 150 years.

'Africa is an integral and a valuable economic partner region within our unique footprint across the region, Asia and the Middle East.

'We consider ourselves truly African - every one of our Sub Saharan CEOs is African, our people who lead and manage our strategy are African, and our strategy is tailored to suit Africa's specific trends and business dynamics. We are indeed Here for good and Here for Africa,' he added.

Currently, Standard Chartered supports more than one million retail customers in Africa, and more than 25,000 commercial, corporate and institutional clients.

In November last year, the bank committed to $ 3 billion in strategic investments globally, over the next three years - a commitment which has already seen Africa benefiting with a multi-market upgrade of digital and mobile banking platforms.

Mr Kaushal said the bank believes in forging strong partnerships, which deliver tangible value for all members of Africa's economies, not just our clients.

He cited the $5 billion commitment to President Obama's Power Africa campaign, in partnership with African governments, which continues to light up new homes and companies to spur income and growth.

'We are encouraging foreign and regional investment in our role as ratings advisor to numerous African governments, linking Africa's growth potential with more investors across Asia and the Middle East. Africa remains a key area of strategic investment for us as a Group, as we focus in building our own strong franchise and growing safely across the continent.'

Mr Kweku Bedu-Addo, the Regional CEO for Ghana, Sierra Leone and The Gambia said: 'This year Standard Chartered celebrates 120 years of supporting Ghana's economic development, making Accra an ideal city to launch our 'Here for Africa' campaign.

He said Standard Chartered Ghana continues to deliver tangible benefits to support local economic growth.

These benefits include development of human capital; roll-out of digital banking solutions to more than 200,000 retail customers; sovereign advisory expertise and support for Ghana's Eurobond issuances.

Besides, it is attracting new investor capital from across Europe, US, Middle East and Asia, as well as empowering local entrepreneurs by bridging the gap between large multinationals and local suppliers through our successful supply chain financing proposition.

'All these initiatives help cement our legacy while building a bright future for many generations of Ghanaians,' he added.

Standard Chartered operates across in 38 African economies, 16 on a full-presence basis and 22 on a transactional basis.

The bank's footprint of 180 branches and outlets now has an extended reach, thanks its continuous evolution of its digital platforms and mobile banking channels.

GNA