The Africa Financial Industry Summit-AFIS and Deloitte unveiled the third edition of their African Financial Industry Barometer, which highlighted significant progress and persistent challenges in the African financial industry.
“…As the sector continues to navigate a complex global environment, this study underscores the importance of innovation, digital transformation, and regional integration in shaping a resilient and prosperous African financial future. The commitment to green finance and carbon neutrality, albeit nascent, is a positive step towards sustainable development,” said Ramatoulaye Goudiaby, Director AFIS.
Based on an in-depth survey to be carried out in the second half of 2023, the barometer offers insights on Africa’s progression towards building a world-class financial industry. An overwhelming 95% of financial industry leaders are optimistic about the economic outlook over the next three years in spite of macroeconomic uncertainties and tensions in financial markets.
The industry is strengthening its asset-liability management (ALM), risk management (cyber security in particular) and capital management in response to persistent inflation and the potential for tighter interest rates and regulation. Many players are taking pragmatic measures – such as adopting more selective distribution approaches, creating guarantee funds and improving internal capital generation – in some cases to the detriment of financing the real economy.
Up 10 points on the last Barometer, industry leaders perceive their digital maturity has increased, propelled by open banking/insuring, which has been the key driver of digital transformation. Information technology is meanwhile the investment priority for the majority of respondents (33%) with more than one in three executives saying they have launched or are ready to launch migration to the cloud. The industry is also keeping a cautious eye on artificial intelligence with 8% of business leaders reporting that this technology has been effectively integrated into their processes.
Aristide Ouattara, Partner, Financial Industry Leader, Deloitte Francophone Africa said: “By capitalizing on pan-African opportunities and overcoming structural obstacles, the African financial industry is well positioned to play a leading role in the global economy. Deloitte and AFIS remain dedicated to providing key insights and supporting the development of this vital sector for Africa’s future.”
Capitalizing on pan-African opportunities
With 72% convinced that PAPSS – the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System initiative is a major accelerator of regional integration, leaders should harness this momentum and accelerative implementation of the African Exchanges Linkage Project (AELP) and African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) initiatives, whose short-term impact is still too weak. As many as 90% of respondents meanwhile favour introducing a harmonised pan-African prudential framework for solvency and liquidity.
Challenges to address in capital markets
Financial performance indicators remain solid despite profitability declines in several sectors. Yet access to capital management instruments remain limited. The struggle for liquidity and refinancing via capital markets persists with 70% of respondents (compared with 56% in the previous Barometer) rating market access and depth as insufficient despite an increase in transaction volumes. This problem is particularly noticeable in foreign exchange transactions and fundraising due to strict regulations.
Green finance and carbon neutrality:
Room for improvement
Despite Africa’s $250bn annual climate finance needs, investment in green finance remains limited with only 10% of respondents committed to green bond issuance. The industry will also need to explore realistic paths towards the zero-carbon objective, given that only 22% of financial institutions have a clear net zero trajectory.
Industry attractiveness declines but doors open for local champions
The African financial industry’s perceived attractiveness has been severely impacted by political turmoil in the region and divestments by major international players over the last five years, such as Standard Chartered, BNP Paribas and Société Générale.
Only 48% of respondents consider the industry more attractive, compared with 61% in the last Barometer. Nevertheless, international banks scaling back African operations has benefited a number of local banks, which have not only increased in size and geographical presence but have reworked their business models to become true continental champions that can compete on an international scale.
Building on more than 175 years of service, Deloitte’s network of member firms spans more than 150 countries and territories and recruited more than 415,000 people worldwide.