Chinese banks were among the first to make their way into the continent, with ICBC, the world's biggest bank by market value, having bought a 20 percent stake in South Africa's Standard Bank in 2007.

Greenpeace director Kumi Naidoo has a packed agenda at the World Economic Forum; the South African human rights activist, who a decade ago faced down riot police in Davos with thousands of other protesters, is being courted by big business.

Indian-origin eminent banker Anshu Jain today said the world has become over-reliant on central bankers and it is time political leaders and industrialists do their bit to improve the global monetary situation.