Standard Bank's Craig Bond on Sino-Africa financing

Say Standard Bank in Asia and most people think you mean Standard Chartered -- a common misconception that Craig Bond, chief executive of Standard Bank in China, is keen to correct. While the institutions do have a common heritage, South Africa-based Standard Bank is determined to become the go-to bank for transactions between Africa and Asia.

During the first six months in China, no one knew who we were we were always asked 'do you mean Standard Chartered' said Bond. Now it's 'oh Standard Bank, the African bank.'

Standard has spent the better part of the past two years, since the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China ICBC took a $5.5 billion equity stake...