Standard Bank Malawi connects key customers to international markets

* Attended the 3rd edition of Africa Unlocked 2026 Conference hosted by Standard Bank Group held on July 9-10, 2026, at the Norval Foundation in Cape Town, South Africa

* Joined more than 140 business leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from Africa and key global markets

* It focused on accelerating continental growth and intra-African trade under the theme; ‘Built in Africa: Amplifying Continental Growth’

By Duncan Mlanjira

Three Malawian top entrepreneurs returned from Cape Town, South Africa on Sunday where Africa’s largest bank by assets, Standard Bank Group, connected them to new growth opportunities when they attended the 3rd edition of Africa Unlocked Conference hosted by the Group.

The three business gurus; Engineer Trevor Hiwa, hoteliers Mirriam Thakwalakwa and Liness Kamowa joined more than 140 business leaders, policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs from Africa and key global markets at the conference — held under the theme; ‘Built in Africa: Amplifying Continental Growth’.

Standard Bank’s Head of Business & Commercial Banking, Chimwemwe Matonga, said the three entrepreneurs were chosen to gain international market exposure “because of their demonstrated growth potential, innovation, and ability to create employment opportunities”.

“At Standard Bank, we believe in connecting Malawi’s entrepreneurs to the rest of Africa and the world,” he said in an interview. “Africa Unlocked 2026 is a platform for our customers to network, access new markets, and tap into funding and partnerships that will help scale up their businesses.”

He added that the three entrepreneurs selected for the conference represent thriving businesses in the engineering, hospitality, and transportation sectors.

Hiwa is managing director of Infracon, an engineering consultancy renowned for its expertise in infrastructure development across a diverse range of sectors — including mining, public infrastructure, renewable energy, and agriculture.

Thakwalakwa and Kamowa operate successful enterprises in the hospitality and transportation industries, running Linde Hotel in Mponela and Mame Car Hire, respectively. 

“The three entrepreneurs are amongst our key customers who have embarked on diversification and expansion of their respective portfolios,” said Matonga. “They represent Malawi’s growth potential and provide a strong representation of the key sectors driving industry potential.

The Africa Unlocked 2026 conference has evolved into a platform for practical conversations about Africa’s economic future, whose discussions centered on how to leverage the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) on reshaping supply chains, scale regional integration, and boost domestic industrialisation.

“Africa’s growth story is increasingly being written by businesses that are scaling across borders, attracting investment and embracing innovation,” Matonga said.

“Africa Unlocked is about discussing Africa’s future by bringing together decision-makers who can unlock investment, enable trade and build the partnerships required to turn opportunity into measurable economic growth.”

On his part, Infracon MD Hiwa attested to that the conference provided critical insights into how his business can reach new regional markets and contribute to job creation and diversification.

“It was exciting to learn from other leaders and explore how we can expand beyond Malawi through the connections made,” he said. “The platform Standard Bank has created shows the bank’s real commitment to growing local businesses across borders.”

Standard Bank Group Chief Executive Sim Tshabalala said during the conference that the next phase of Africa’s growth will depend on how its entrepreneurs sustain momentum in building partnerships, harnessing regional integration and providing innovative solutions to emerging challenges.

“Across the continent we are seeing businesses expanding into new markets, entrepreneurs scaling with confidence and investment supporting infrastructure, industrialisation, and innovation.

“The next phase of growth will depend on how effectively we build on this momentum through stronger partnerships, greater regional integration, and continued investment in Africa’s productive economy,” Tshabalala said.

According to CIO Africa, since its launch in 2024, the Africa Unlocked programme has grown into one of Standard Bank’s flagship thought leadership platforms, bringing together leaders from business, government, development finance institutions and academia to explore practical solutions for Africa’s economic development.

This year’s conference placed particular emphasis on translating discussions into action by strengthening trade, mobilising investment, supporting entrepreneurship and building globally competitive African enterprises.

Among the themes on the agenda were the future of commercial diplomacy under the AfCFTA, financing infrastructure and industrialisation through domestic and international capital, and balancing energy security with climate resilience.

Delegates also examined the practical deployment of artificial intelligence (AI) across African industries, the scaling of mid-sized businesses into continental champions, wealth creation and succession planning, and Africa’s economic outlook amid a changing geopolitical environment.

Technology featured prominently through discussions on how AI can improve productivity, innovation and competitiveness across sectors, reflecting the growing role digital technologies are playing in Africa’s economic transformation.

Standard Bank Malawi thus says it will continue to support the growth of the country’s businesses, “providing opportunities for trade, capacity building and regional exposure through structured event and initiatives such as this”.