Standard Bank Hosts 2nd African Markets Conference in Cape Town to Drive Africa’s Capital Mobilisation
Standard Bank’s Corporate and Investment Banking division is set to host the second edition of its prominent African Markets Conference (AMC 2026). This flagship event aims to catalyse the flow of capital into Africa’s most vital sectors by bringing together international institutional investors, sovereign wealth funds, and African policymakers.
Scheduled for 22-24 February 2026 in Cape Town, South Africa, AMC 2026 will serve as a platform for high-level dialogue on mobilising global capital to support Africa’s growth and development.
Luvuyo Masinda, Chief Executive of Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Group, notes that AMC 2026 builds on the achievements of the inaugural 2025 conference, which successfully reframed Africa’s narrative from risk to resilience.
“This year’s engagement bridges the gap between policy ambitions and market realities. Africa urgently needs practical measures to deepen capital pools, improve market liquidity, and strengthen regulatory frameworks that give investors confidence to deploy capital at scale. Mobilising capital is not just about funding projects; it is about building the foundation of a more balanced and inclusive global economy,” says Masinda.
By 2050, Africa is projected to add over one billion people, with more than half residing in urban areas. Despite this, the continent invests only $75 billion of the $150 billion needed annually for infrastructure development. AMC 2026 aims to ensure that African priorities remain central to the global financial discourse.
The conference will revolve around five impactful pillars designed to accelerate investment:
– **Prioritising Infrastructure as an Asset Class:** Moving beyond aid to foster public-private partnerships (PPPs) that transform critical projects into investable assets.
– **Accelerating the Energy Transition:** Positioning Africa as a key player in global energy security by unlocking its renewable energy potential through innovative solutions.
– **Deepening African Capital Markets and Mobilising Private Capital:** Enhancing domestic liquidity, promoting regulatory transparency, and expanding access for institutional investors.
– **Enabling Intra-African Trade and Capital Flows:** Highlighting the importance of regional integration to attract Foreign Direct Investment (FDI), leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) to foster a larger, more predictable market.
– **Africa’s Sovereign Debt and Cost Sustainability:** Addressing Africa’s developmental funding needs by focusing on affordability, credibility, and structure to manage perceived risk premiums and develop capital markets.
AMC 2026 will feature a high-level delegation of decision-makers including:
– Finance Ministers, Infrastructure Ministers, and Central Bank Governors from key African growth hubs
– Global asset managers and institutional investors seeking yield and sustainable impact
– Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) and multilateral agencies focused on de-risking frameworks
Executive leaders from Standard Bank, including Sim Tshabalala (CEO), Luvuyo Masinda (CEO, CIB), Sola Adegbesan (Head of Global Markets Africa Regions), and Alex Davidson (Head of Global Markets SA), will lead technical sessions on market liquidity.
This conference embodies a collective call to action for both the public and private sectors. It provides a vital platform to chart, debate, and accelerate Africa’s growth trajectory.