Standard Bank Swaziland Ltd: Mervyn Lubbe, Managing Director
1. What are the economic prospects for your country over the next three to five years?
The country, through Swaziland Investment Promotion Authority, is marketing itself to potential foreign investors and tourists. Tourism and manufacturing are both areas for potential growth.
2. How do you foresee the financial sector in your country changing?
There is a clear commitment from the governor of the central bank to ensure best international practice is followed and applied, evidenced by the initiatives taking place on money laundering control and the preparation towards Basel II implementation in January 2008. The financial sector will be highly automated in the next few years.
3. What role will your bank play in your country's future development?
The bank is a major player in the Swazi economy and is committed to continue playing a leading role, particularly in the improvement of electronic service delivery, compliance with regulatory requirements and adopting the highest levels of good corporate governance. The bank has made a commitment to the country’s job creation summit and will create an enabling environment to assist SMEs’ access to funds. The bank will also continue to play an active role in promoting social responsibility through providing funding and HIV/AIDS initiatives, food disaster relief and promotion of sports and culture.
