Interview - Irshaan Raghununan Head: Client Coverage (CIB)

Title: Standard Bank Mauritius Limited - The strategic partner to invest in Africa

Irshaan elaborated on the role of Standard Bank Mauritius as a major financial player in its targeted segments. The Bank provides banking and investment services to parastatal enterprises, large multinational corporations, and financial institutions through a comprehensive range of products and services across its Investment Banking, Global Markets, and Transaction Banking offerings. In order to meet the sophisticated needs of its African clientele, the Bank delivers value‑added services. Standard Bank Mauritius also places strong emphasis on efficiency, while continuously exploring opportunities to support the growth and development of its clients’ activities across Africa.

“Within our bank, Corporate Banking is a cornerstone of our growth and transformation strategy. It contributes directly to the expansion of our portfolio, the development of revenues, and the positioning of the bank as a partner of choice for investors using Mauritius as a platform for their investments in Africa,” highlights Irshaan Raghununan, Head of Client Coverage, Corporate and Investment Banking at Standard Bank Mauritius.

Standard Bank Mauritius is part of the Standard Bank Group, the largest bank in Africa in terms of assets, with a strong presence in 21 African countries. Standard Bank has been present in Mauritius since 2001, with a financial strategy focused on Africa. As Irshaan Raghununan points out, Standard Bank is therefore the ideal and strategic partner for investors using Mauritius as a financial hub to invest in Africa. “We leverage our African cross-border expertise and the synergies within the Group to connect our clients in, for, and across Africa. The bank’s motto is ‘Africa is our home, we drive her growth.’”

With more than 163 years of experience in connecting Africa to international markets, Standard Bank brings a unique combination of pan-African expertise to corporates, enabling clients to seize new opportunities while navigating an evolving regional landscape. The bank has recently strengthened its presence in Africa with the opening of a representative office in Egypt. Standard Bank also benefits from the appeal of its strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), the world’s largest bank, positioning it ideally between Africa and China.

Standard Bank Mauritius’s corporate clients come from a wide range of sectors and have specific needs. Their expertise, together with that of the Standard Bank Group, spans several key sectors. In Mining & Metals, the bank offers specialised technical expertise to support the mining and commodities industry. In the Oil, Gas & Renewables sector, it provides financial solutions across the entire energy value chain, including project financing for renewable energy initiatives.

In the Power & Infrastructure sector, the bank supports economic development through the financing of infrastructure and large-scale projects. For financial institutions, it offers dedicated services to central banks, local banks, insurance companies, and asset managers. In Telecommunications, Media & Technology (TMT), its involvement covers segments such as data centres, fibre optics, fintech, and mobility solutions.

The consumer sector also benefits from its support, particularly in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG), agribusiness, beverages, and retail. In real estate, the bank finances commercial, industrial, and residential developers. Finally, in the public sector, it provides tailored financial solutions to governments and parastatal organisations.

“Innovation plays a key role in the evolution of our offering: process automation and digitalisation to optimise operations, secure payment solutions, and collaborative platforms. The objective is to deliver faster, smarter, and simpler services to a complex client base. We support our clients in impact-driven projects such as energy efficiency, clean technologies, sustainable infrastructure, responsible agriculture, and many others. We provide them with financing solutions as well as the expertise required to structure projects aligned with international standards,” adds Irshaan Raghununan.

Click here to read the article in french.