Barclays Africa bets on shared growth strategy to drive growth

Barclays Africa on Tuesday reaffirmed its commitment to economic and socio-economic growth on the continent through its Shared Growth Strategy. Under the new strategy, the bank pledged Sh9.3 billion ($93 million) to improve skills development and access to quality education, to raise Sh8.9 billion ($89 million) to help small and medium-sized African businesses succeed and grow, and to ensure that more people have access to digital and non-digital financial services across the continent. Speaking at a press briefing in Johannesburg, Maria Ramos, Barclays Africa Group Chief Executive said: "Shared Growth for us means having a positive impact on society and delivering shareholder value. We are applying our substantial resources to provide innovative commercial products, services and partnerships to build a more equitable and prosperous Africa for the next generation." Barclays Bank Kenya Managing Director Jeremy Awori reckons that meaningful contribution to economies and society through shared value ensures the group's contributions are meaningful and the impact is sustainable.