MTN South Sudan : Initialising Telecoms in an Emerging Market
Initialising Telecoms in an Emerging Market MTN’s presence in South Sudan has proven that with the right attitude and product offering, tough market conditions can be overcome and negative perceptions about the investment environment can be changed Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith When South Sudan became independent on the 9 July 2011, MTN formalised its operations as a separate operating company, expanding its previously limited space in the young nation. As a company in the early stages of its life, MTN South Sudan is now working to address the existing economic development gaps and also improve its infrastructures in a sustainable manner. Top on the agenda as well is MTN’s social responsibility as a corporate citizen.“Our strategy for deployment in South Sudan is to focus on the basics; namely working on deploying adequate infrastructure such as new telecoms towers and identifying partners to help us increase our capacities,” says MTN South Sudan CEO, Philip Besiimire.“Unlike traditional markets, South Sudan is one with defining needs. By this I mean that even though telecommunications is in the early stages here, we still have to provide the best and the latest services that match availability elsewhere in the world,” he adds. Platform for growthBeing part of the South African-based multinational mobile telecoms company, MTN Group allows the South Sudan operation access to tried and tested methodologies and pre-defined technology strategies that help achieve a vision of affordability and access on the continent.“Those who have encountered our name before will recognise our strong branding and reputation that we have among African audiences as…
Mantrac Nigeria
Riding the Storm Mantrac Nigeria is using its extensive reputation and expertise, as well as its international influence as Caterpillar’s sole dealer, to overcome Nigeria’s market slowdown Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Ben Wigger Mantrac Nigeria is capitalising on its international reputation and experienced team in the country to successfully defend its market position in a sector that continues to challenge and test efficiencies.With 2015’s general election within Nigeria leading to business dramatically slowing down across the wider industry, the need to improve internal operations and cement itself as a preferred partner for equally challenged customers has never been more significant.A company as established and widespread as Mantrac though has been able to rise to the challenge in as positive a way as possible, and is in the process of maintaining and consolidating in the present, while keeping an eye on future growth.“The significant growth we had experienced in previous years has helped us to maintain our market share during this period,” confirms the company’s Strategic Planning and Marketing Manager, James Agama. “The pace at which the construction industry is growing at this time in Nigeria has been very slow since 2014 but we still ended that year well in terms of the numbers we achieved.“We decided, going into 2015 as well, we will aim to maintain and defend our market share.”Mantrac Nigeria has subsequently ensured that it makes the most of the 10 branches it has stationed in the country servicing the world-renowned Caterpillar brand, as well looking into new supply chain opportunities as part of an extensive drive for improved…
Africell Group : Challenging the Telecom Landscape
COO Elias Arwadi believes that Africell will play a key part in the development of Africa’s telecoms sector, a sector that is becoming the main driver behind the rise of the continent as a major economic player.
J.R. Goddard Contracting Zimbabwe
J.R. Goddard Contracting has diversified and expanded its services extensively over the past 32 years, but retains its commitment to sustainability and its people throughout.
Met Group
Raising the Bar MetGroup is staying true to a Group business model that has already improved industry standards via its 11 operating companies to become the mining industry’s contractor of choice Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron Rampling MetGroup has risen from a medium engineering group to a respected mining and engineering contractor supplying services globally through a one-stop-shop value proposition, and is now striving to raise the industry bar even further through its 11 operating companies.Diversification has enabled the company to look beyond the entire business spectrum, creating a platform for success and high performance delivery, which consolidated in South Africa in 2005; becoming an “energetic, driven and multi-faceted organisation housing a comprehensive range of expertise to the infrastructure, mining, shaft sinking, construction and manufacturing sectors”.In every strategic decision made during this development, however, has been the underlying goal of meeting customer satisfaction, adhering to the latest industry trends, innovations, and ensuring a sustainable future for both MetGroup and its business partners.“What MetGroup establishes in each company is to create diversity within the Group, but also to create a profit centre for each company in their own right, accommodating the needs of the Group itself, and the customers they serve,” explains the organisation’s Group Commercial Director, Dr. Hein Jantzen. “This value proposition therefore creates a platform for a one-stop shop solution.”The subsequent result of this turnkey offering has been long-term client relationships; a more comprehensive adherence to safety, health and the environment due to the more focused nature of each individual subsidiary; and a more extensive employment drive across its…
Moldon
Taking the Brand Forward As first-hand experts in the food and drink industry, Moldon continues to actively involve itself in the market in order to gain brand exposure and build a reputation for quality and efficiency Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Josh Hyland Changing needs across the food and drink industry have depicted Moldon’s business strategy over the years, shifting from a steady bottle collection service for one of the leading manufacturers of alcohol in Zimbabwe, to a one-stop shop for distributors and end users in the foodservice industry in the country with more than 5,000 product lines available. Taking on virtually every aspect of the industry over the course of the past four years, General Manager Karl Klein is proud to say that Moldon now has solid foundations from which to grow its market presence: “We have shown the courage to invest and are looking to take on board more brands and product lines to get the Moldon name out there through our marketing focus.“The company is continually approached by organisations who want us to provide distribution services for them,” he says.The bottle collection service turned into collection and delivery, and then through prospering relationships with the distilleries, Moldon began to import and distribute popular alcoholic beverages such as Savanna & Hunters. “We built up a portfolio of beverage products and decided to buy into the food industry as well, starting with Liberty Foods. Now, we work with some of the biggest international brands such as Unilever, Carte D’or, Knorr, Kelloggs, Tiger Brands and since 2014, Nestlé. Eventually, we took…
Major Drilling
Southern Africa’s Partner on the Ground Major Drilling is one of the major players in the global mining sector and is using its expertise and reputation to overcome current industry challenges on the continent Writer: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron Rampling Major Drilling is capitalising on its international reputation and mining expertise to weather a general slowdown in the market.With commodity prices at or near cyclical lows, the competition for projects is all the more fierce, but Major Drilling has the benefit of being a longstanding, leading player across the global sector.Based in New Brunswick, Canada, the company’s replication of its international success, in Southern Africa, has been an ongoing process since 2007 following the acquisition of the Longstaff Group of Companies.“Our history in the region is fairly recent but our main focus remains that of the wider company, to provide specialised drilling services to the mining industry,” explains the Group’s Southern African Regional Manager, Greig Rodger. “As one of the very well established global players in the industry, we operate very specialised services including circulation drilling, multi-purpose drilling, directional drilling, environmental drilling, and shallow oil & gas drilling.“Typically, the more challenging areas of drilling are where we specialise.” Global company, acting localThe company’s operations in Southern Africa currently comprise a 250-strong workforce carrying out these highly complex projects for its range of international and regional customers.Balancing the global influence with local considerations is something that Major Drilling has had to pay close attention to over the past six years and is something that Rodger believes is one of the key…
Kenblest Group
The Right Ingredients for Success Business has remained steady for Kenblest over the past year and the increased capacities from replacing its ovens and machinery are sure to encourage future growth in the Kenyan market Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Callum Philp With an extensive family-orientated company history, Kenblest has seen rapid expansion in recent years thanks to its investments in high quality machinery that allows for increased capacities, timely product delivery and generating added value through the use of local suppliers.With roots tracing back to 1937, the incorporation of ‘Shah Kanji Ladha and Company’ in Thika, Kenya, by Kanji Ladha Shah marked the beginning of the company footprint in the country. The shop located in the centre of Thika town, traded in textiles and general goods. Mayur Mohanlal Shah joined in 1981, having graduated as a pharmacist from John Moore University and completed a Diploma in Baking in the United Kingdom.Given the company’s initial experience of baking and the Kenyan market, the directors identified a large gap in the industry for good quality bread; and so plans were drawn up to expand into the bakery industry, resulting in the incorporation of Kenblest Limited. In August 1982, the Kenblest bakery was commissioned with the prime objective to manufacture and deliver good quality and affordable bread to Kenyan consumers.Since this time, the company has focused heavily on combining international business practices into the inner workings of Kenblest bakery. Through dedication and hard work, coupled with strong business acumen, Kenblest flourished and within four years the bakery expanded its capacity from 80,000…
White Rivers Exploration : The Next Generation of Mines
White Rivers Exploration has been compiling significant tenement holdings and drill hole databases for the past eight years and is now entering a landmark milestone phase of its evolution in the Witwatersrand Basin.
Nampak Bevcan
Unlocking Value Across Africa Already established as the packaging leader in Africa with operations in 11 African countries outside of SA, Nampak continues to take advantage of the continent’s upward growth trajectory Writer: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Ben Wigger Since its inception more than 50 years ago, Nampak Bevcan has demonstrated its capabilities in the manufacture and supply of beverage cans across the African continent to become known as one of Africa’s leading lights. Throughout this prosperous existence, the company’s footprint has gradually grown to include surrounding markets such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, and most recently Angola and Nigeria.Throughout its operations, the launch of the “buy better, make better, sell better” business improvement initiatives, as well as concerted efforts to improve the company safety record continue to drive Nampak forward. In 2014, the Group achieved a Level 3 BBBEE rating, an improvement on the Level 4 rating in 2013.In South Africa, the business environment is set to remain challenging this year, however, Nampak will continue to focus on ways to unlock value from its base business. Efficiency gains from the conversation of many of its beverage can lines to aluminium from tinplate, as well as from the new glass furnace, are expected to contribute earnings in the year ahead. Moreover, Nampak is strategically well-placed in the rest of Africa, with strong market positions and a growing presence. The Group is pursuing its strategic objective to accelerate growth in the rest of Africa to ensure that this side of the business contributes to sustainable earnings growth in the long term. Bevcan Nigeria…
