Online Reporter
A high-profile delegation of Zimbabwean business executives leading financial services group Bard Santner Inc. held talks with Mauritius President Dharambeer Gokhool at State House in Port Louis, as the group steps up efforts to build strategic partnerships and expand its regional footprint.
The delegation, led by Bard Santner board chairperson Mr Vinod Khooshiramsing Bussawah and chief executive officer, Mr Senziwani Sikhosana, met President Gokhool on Wednesday to explore opportunities in investment management, cross-border financial services and collaboration with Mauritian stakeholders.
According to a statement published on President Gokhool’s social media platforms, the delegation comprised Mr Sikhosana, managing director Mr Tatenda Hungwe, executive director Ms Lucia Chingwaru and Mr Ngonidzashe Chikowore, managing director of Bard Santner Microfinance Bank.
“President Gokhool welcomed a delegation from the Bard Santner Group, Zimbabwe, for a courtesy visit yesterday (Wednesday),” the statement said.
It added that discussions explored investment management, cross-border financial services and collaboration with Mauritian stakeholders, highlighting the island nation’s role as a strategic gateway for investment into Africa.
Mr Sikhosana said the engagement reflects Bard Santner’s ambition to position itself as a regional financial services player, leveraging Mauritius’ status as an established international financial centre and an important gateway for investment into Africa.
“The visit comes as Bard Santner seeks to deepen its presence in regional markets and connect investors, capital and investment opportunities across the continent and beyond. A key area of interest is the development of cross-border financial services frameworks that can support investment flows and asset management across different markets.
“The group is also seeking to build partnerships that connect African markets and broaden access to investment opportunities. The Mauritius engagement comes against the backdrop of significant developments in Bard Santner’s Zimbabwean operations,” he said.
Headquartered in Harare, with offices in Johannesburg and New York, the group provides financial intermediary, asset management, corporate finance, wealth management and treasury management services.
The Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe recently granted a deposit-taking microfinance banking licence to Bard Santner Microfinance Bank, paving the way for the launch of a diaspora-focused financial institution targeting remittance flows from Zimbabweans living and working abroad. The institution seeks to tap into the substantial diaspora market, particularly in South Africa, Botswana, the United Kingdom, Australia and the United States, among other destinations.
Bard Santner also recently unveiled a 13-member board for its banking project, bringing together professionals with experience in major international financial institutions and firms, including HSBC, KPMG and PwC.
The group has also been involved in facilitating investment opportunities for Zimbabwean investors, including access to the US$1,6 billion initial public offering by Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Petrochemicals FZE.
The Nigerian refinery, owned by billionaire industrialist Dr Aliko Dangote, is located in Lekki, Lagos, and has a re-rated nameplate capacity of 700 000 barrels per day. Its planned expansion is expected to increase capacity to 1,4 million barrels per day by 2029.
The IPO is intended to raise capital towards the refinery’s expansion programme, which is expected to strengthen its position in the global petroleum industry. Bard Santner has also played a role in bringing Dangote’s investment interests to Zimbabwe.
In November last year, the group facilitated engagements that saw the Nigerian industrialist express interest in investing more than US$1 billion in the country through an integrated industrial and infrastructure project.
