“Sino-African Entrepreneurs Forum” co-sponsored by ICBC, Standard Bank Group and Yabuli China Entrepreneurs Forum was successfully held in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 16 (local time of South Africa). Mr. Jiang Jianqing, Chairman of ICBC, Mr. Tian Xuejun, Chinese ambassador to South Africa, Mr. Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Economic Development, Mr. Ben Kruger and Mr. Sim Tshabalala, joint CEOs of Standard Bank of South Africa attended the conference and gave speeches.

Chairman Jiang Jianqing said in his speech at the forum’s opening ceremony that the dialogue between the enterprises of China and South Africa is the dialogue between the largest economy in Asia and the second largest economy in Africa, which has self-evident importance. With increasing presence of Chinese enterprises, the dividend and potential of South Africa’s economy and other African economies are being and will continue to be released. ICBC will follow customers and provide a package of financial services including global structured finance, investment banking, settlement and clearing, trade match, and exchange rate and interest rate services. According to Mr. Sim Tshabalala, joint CEO of Standard Bank, Standard Bank will provide the best localized financial services for the bilateral investment between Chinese and African enterprises as the largest commercial bank in Africa and ICBC’s strategic partner.

The theme of the “Sino-African Entrepreneurs Forum” is “Rise of Africa - China Assistance”. Over 100 business leaders from China and Africa gathered for dialogue and exchange on economic cooperation and exchange between the two countries as well as important topics such as Chinese enterprises’ investment in Africa’s energy and mineral resources, infrastructures and consumables. The forum has provided an exchange platform for Chinese and South African entrepreneurs to discuss business opportunities face-to-face and boost economic cooperation between the two countries to a higher level.

ICBC is the world’s largest commercial bank and the Chinese financial institution with the most extensive network coverage worldwide. Standard Bank Group, on the other hand, has the largest asset size in African banking industry. Since ICBC acquired 20% of Standard Bank’s shares and became its largest shareholder at the end of 2008, the two banks have continued to deepen long-term strategic partnership and developed fruitful cooperation in China, Africa and other parts of the world. The two banks provided quality and efficient comprehensive financial services for Chinese and South African enterprises in cross-border trade and cross-border investment and finance and made their due contribution to the economic and social development of South Africa.