Issue 30
Razorbill Holdings (Pty) Ltd
End-to-End Building InnovationWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Stuart Parker Razorbill Holdings has grown into a multi-faceted building solution Company, comprised of four subsidiaries that when combined, provide an end-to-end building solution that focuses on bringing innovative green building techniques to South Africa’s commercial, residential and social housing sectors.At the core of its business remains Razorbill Properties 127 (Pty) Ltd, the first of its subsidiaries to enter the lightweight steel frame (LWSF) construction sector via the social housing market in 2007. The Company quickly established itself as a reputable supplier of total roofing solutions, initiating and promoting the new South African energy efficient building regulation changes; which saw the industry move from the standard cranked IBR roofing sheets on purlins, into energy efficient roofing solutions consisting of cement roof tiles on trusses and later, the inclusion of ceilings with insulation.“At the time, we designed our roofs in such a way that they could be retro-fitted with ceiling insulation materials to upgrade the houses over time, bringing them in line with the expected legislation. Given that the market continues to constantly change, it is important to think ahead in order to provide the right innovative roofing solution in the long-term,” explains Chris Smith, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Razorbill Holdings.As the roofing market became further saturated, Smith identified that there was a gap in the market for a total solution provider who could take on an active project management role. In 2010, this prompted the decision to split the Company into the aforementioned four subsidiaries under one holding Company, namely:…
Kenya Ports Authority
The Region’s Trading HubWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Tom Cullum Kenya Ports Authority (KPA) has been responsible for the Port of Mombasa since 1978, overseeing the country’s transformation into the ‘hub of Africa’ that it is often considered as today. With a mandate to maintain, operate, improve and regulate all scheduled sea ports situated along Kenya’s coastline, KPA has the challenging task of balancing stable operating profits with the right level of investment in modernisation of the port’s facilities in order to better handle the increased traffic in the present day trade environment.“Located in the Northern Corridor, the Port of Mombasa is the biggest asset in Mombasa County and is of great historical importance, with roots tracing back to the 19th century; to a time when dhows called at the Old Port on the north side of Mombasa Island. It offers essential international maritime linkage for Kenya and the landlocked East and Central African countries of Uganda, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi and DRC.In addition to Mombasa, the largest port in the region, KPA also operates other ports including Lamu, Malindi, Kilifi, Mtwapa, Kiunga, Shimoni, Funzi and Vanga.“As a result, it is important that we implement the right development programmes with the ultimate aim of making the Port of Mombasa among the best ports in the world,” explained the Company on its website.Over the past 10 years, the Port has recorded significant growth in traffic volumes, which has put a strain on existing port infrastructure; necessitating costly investment to improve operations and service delivery. Between 2002 and 2006, the…
Afroteq Advisory (Pty) Ltd
Informing the Right Business ChoicesWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Stuart Parker Established in 2000, Afroteq Advisory (Afroteq) quickly grew into the professional consulting and facilities management (FM) environment, developing the technical capabilities and industry expertise to bring value-add, informed decision making to South African businesses.Commenting on its initial service offering, Andre Michau – one of the founders of Afroteq and currently the Executive Manager – says: “Afroteq specialised in office space planning and design, staff training in facilities management and everything in-between that assists a client with any requirement in the facilities or built environment.”Michau highlights: “We began to explore ways in which we could extend our offering to become an end-to-end integrated facilities management service provider. For example, if a client is looking to consolidate its operations into one warehouse, often this decision is born and bred from a strategic focus within the organisation itself, but underpinning and informing that decision is a facilities management aspect including cost of the consolidation and how well the facilities support the core function of the business.“In order for a company, such as a distribution company, to make the decision whether to operate their business from one centralised warehouse or several decentralised ones, they need to understand the full facilities implication of that decision and the cost (both capital and operational) implications thereof. This is where we come in; facilitating informed strategic decisions based on proper short and long-term facility scenarios, we help the client ensure that their decision is the right one for their business.”Another key consideration is space, which…
Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers
Flexible Risk SolutionsWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Callum Philp Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers is looking forward to a series of technological advancements to usher in the latest phase of a 20-year evolution to the top of the country’s financial domain.Initiating in 1985 as ZimRe, the business became the largest reinsurance Company in the country, and has subsequently developed to become one of the leading lights in the insurance brokerage sector under the primary ownership of ZimRe Holdings Limited.With offices spread strategically across the business hubs of urban Zimbabwe, the growth and diversification that the business has implemented over the past two decades has been a result of concerted innovation and creativity, choosing this route over mergers and takeovers to form the smoothest route possible for both the Company and its loyal clients.“Since formation, the Company has experienced phenomenal growth through adopting competitive strategies which has made it one of the largest locally-owned insurance brokers and a pace setter in the market,” Zimbabwe Insurance Brokers (ZIB) says. “In 1994, ZIB was converted into a Public Company through a secondary listing conducted via the Post Office and in 1995, ZIB set up Reinsurance Brokers International (RBI).”Arguably its most significant selling point was cemented more than a decade later in 2006 when it became the first and only ISO certified broker in Zimbabwe; a status still held proudly to this day.Looking forward, this same commitment to business flexibility and offering something unique stands firm, and will be epitomised by a series of technological introductions in years to come; including an extension of…
STAG African
International Expansion given the Green LightWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Stuart ParkerSTAG AFRICAN is well on its way to achieving its goal of being the most innovative green Company on the continent as it looks to build upon a business model that has taken the property development market by storm over the past six years.Progressing as an established traditional construction business throughout the 1980s and 1990s, the Company’s gateway to the reputation and market prominence synonymous with today’s STAG can be traced back to 2009, and the strategic decision to challenge what the Group perceived as an outdated and costly student accommodation market.Catering to a sector where affordability is of the essence, the idea was to overhaul the niche market by introducing the most modern international design and build techniques, using more green and sustainable products, with the lowest end cost possible as a result.“We wanted to come up with an optimal concept to reduce the costs of providing accommodation to students, and it was architectural design and product innovation that achieved this,” recalls STAG AFRICAN’s Managing Director (MD), John Schooling. “We looked around the world for the best facility building system and came across one known as lightweight steel framing which we began using, and really pioneering, on accommodation in South Africa.”Subsequently branching out across the surrounding region from its South African headquarters, STAG went on to complement this acknowledgement of the 21st century construct with six guiding principles which have formed the basis for the overall business model ever since: sustainability, flexibility, technology, innovation, affordability…
First Reinsurance Botswana
First-Class ReinsurersWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Callum Philp Established in 2009, First Reinsurance Botswana (First Re Botswana) is the latest arm of the wider Emeritus International Reinsurance Group (Emeritus Re), created to capitalise on the growing demand for financial service expertise in the country. As first-movers in Botswana, First Re is working hard to strengthen the market’s understanding of reinsurance products and the benefits they bring to insurers.“The law in Botswana was favourable for reinsurance services, and we were the first reinsurers to take advantage of this regulatory environment, starting with Emeritus Re becoming a registered International Financial Services Centre (IFSC) accredited holding Company,” highlights Leo Huvaya, Group Managing Director of Emeritus Re.The Group has significant sub-Saharan presence in a selection of rapidly growing financial markets via its operations in Botswana, Mozambique, Malawi, South Africa and Zambia; benefitting from a strong pedigree and successful track record of utilising its expertise to help insurers find capital for risk transfer.“Quick turnaround time especially on claims settlement is critical in our business. We always want to show our customers that we offer a professional and efficient service, and we are constantly looking for ways to become more relevant and get closer to our clients. Our aim is to give our shareholders a better return on investment and improve our credit ratings. All these components have resulted in local investors who are keen to partner with us. Our major competitive advantage is that we are always first to pay all our obligations on time; an element which all players in the market…
Athena Properties
Africa’s Lifestyle Developer of ChoiceWriter:Emily JarvisProject Manager:Stuart ParkerThe East African real estate market is currently thriving, with the likes of leading property developer and urban management services firm, Athena Properties at the forefront of this change. Established in 2013 with a concerted focus on large mixed-use developments, the Company has been answering East Africa’s call for an end-to-end construction service that allows for a seamless and comprehensive offering including; land acquisition, master planning, urban planning, project management, construction management, development management and project finance right through to asset management.Athena Properties is one of seven wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Centum Investment Group, the leading investment Company in East Africa cross-listed in both Kenya Securities Exchange and Uganda Securities Exchange. With a Group goal to become sub-Saharan Africa’s lifestyle developer of choice, Athena Properties has quickly established itself as the preferred development partner in East African real estate through its multi-million mixed-use development projects. Kenya in particular has been an area of substantial interest as the country is currently working hard on achieving a significantly decentralised public sector by embracing the urban management concept; encouraging the spread of the population across areas outside the city which is then managed by pro-active local authorities.“In line with the Group’s strategy to participate in the development process from start to finish, Athena Properties involves itself in mixed use developments and the creation of urban nodes, providing a complete end-to-end solution that addresses East Africa’s compelling need for infrastructure development and urban management; targets which are currently unmet,” explains Chris Ochieng, Managing…
Danakali Ltd
Supporting the Growth Markets of the FutureWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron RamplingDanakali, in conjunction with its joint venture partner, the Eritrean National Mining Company, is laying the foundations for what promises to be one of country’s most significant mining operations to date, as the Australian organisation looks towards creating a sustainable and successful presence on the continent.Making the decision to enter the country back in 2009, the Company formally known as South Boulder Mines has spent the subsequent six years securing tenements and preparing the groundwork for the business’ first foray onto African soil; eventually identifying a tangible JORC compliant, high quality, potassium bearing resource, to the tune of 1.2 billion tonnes, in 2012.Previously successful in the Australian nickel and gold exploration domain, this move was a strategic decision built around the longevity that potash products comprise moving forward, and the potential that the Colluli project in Eritrea seemed to hold in this area from the outset.“After sharpening our focus on potash, it was Eritrea that came up as one of those areas with high potential and that’s why the South Boulder team went after those tenements at the time,” affirms Danakali’s Managing Director (MD), Paul Donaldson. “At 1.2 billion tonnes, a massive resource has been realised and, having completed a pre-feasibility study in early 2015, and then commencing a definitive feasibility study straight after that, South Boulder wanted to symbolise this focus on potash.”The subsequent rebranding and renaming to Danakali is indicative of this transition from an exploration company to a bona fide producer, setting…
Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd
Bridging your ExpectationsWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron RamplingWith both the expertise and capacity to deliver a range of construction projects of any scale across a diverse range of industry and to a multitude of clients, the Stefanutti Stocks Group is among South Africa’s listed construction Group frontrunners. In January this year, the Group reported R12.7 billion of work in the pipeline, of which 40 percent was generated from outside its South African operations. Five decades of perfecting infrastructure projects and demonstrating a confident set of skills and understanding in the field, the Group now strives to entice more customers towards its end-to-end construction solutions, along with a concerted focus on projects in the mining industry in recent times.“The Group as you see it today is a product of long-standing business relationships and the coming together of key business minds in a bid to combine their business knowhow and decades of continuous improvement, to develop a local understanding representative of Africa’s construction, mining and infrastructural needs,” highlights Steve Van der Walt, Contracts Director for Stefanutti Stocks Roads and Earthworks, a division of Stefanutti Stocks (Pty) Ltd.Bressan ConstructionFrom humble beginnings, starting with one truck, a concrete mixer and two dumpers, the Company began its life in 1971 under the name I. Bressan Construction; securing the Phala Rail Grade Separation contract near Amamzintoti two years later, for the then Natal Provincial Administration (NPA). In the early years, as a privately owned and under-capitalised Company, Bressan leveraged its relationship with the NPA, along with the founding trio’s enthusiasm to succeed, and this secured business in…
Open Food : Keeping its Options Open
OPEN Food is exploring new horizons, new sectors and new territories as it stays true to an entrepreneurial ethos which continues to keep the catering specialist ahead of the industry curve and market competition year after year.
Laxmanbhai Construction Ltd
Delivering Excellence Across Three GenerationsWriter:Matthew StaffProject Manager:Stuart ParkerFor more than 60 years, Laxmanbhai Construction Ltd has built and engrained its reputation into the East African construction industry, diversifying its offering and its customer demographic to fulfil its initial dream of “creating an industry-leading firm dedicated to making the world a better place”.This was the vision of Founder, Laxmanbhai Bhimji K. Raghwani who, six decades ago, embarked on the Company’s adventure through grit and values that are still strongly evident in the business to this day.Expanding geographically and internally, at a rapid rate, Laxmanbhai developed to cater across not only the core construction domain, but also across contracting, sales, machinery maintenance and property development; based on four guiding principles of care, entrepreneurship, collaboration and integrity.“Mr Laxmanbhai started from a registered capital of KES100,000 and 30 members of staff in 1953,” says Laxmanbhai Construction’s Managing Director (MD), Dhanji Raghwani. “By 1972, Laxmanbhai Construction Ltd was expanding very rapidly in India, UK, Seychelles and Mauritius as well as gaining a well-earned recognition in the construction industry, as a customer with punctuality, a collaborative approach and high quality standards.“The rapid growth continued through the late 1980s and well into the 1990s despite the worldwide recession and, today, the Laxmanbhai Group has more than 13 shareholders and is among the top construction companies in the country; setting the standard of quality over three generations with the aim to continue building clients’ visions by delivering excellence.”Superior qualityLaxmanbhai Construction’s recognition incorporates not only the Company’s competency in carrying out state-of-the-art projects, but also…
Sakata Seed Southern Africa
Quality Reliability and ServiceWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Josh Hyland Sakata Southern Africa has grown tremendously over the past few years in making the horticultural seed market its own in the region in recent years, as it leverages more than 100 years of global experience while ensuring that it modernises to remain the most innovative regional player in the years to come.As one of the largest horticultural seed Groups in the world, Sakata’s history is extensive to say the least, but its 1999 acquisition of MayFord Seeds has arguably been the turning point in Southern Africa for a business which has gone from strength to strength. Supply Chain Director, Susan Allen explains: “Founded in 1931, MayFord Seeds was one of the oldest vegetable seed suppliers in South Africa. As a four generation family business, the Company developed a diverse portfolio including seed production, hobby packet seed, professional vegetable, turf and flower seed, vegetable breeding programmes and specialised products for the home garden industry. “In the late 1960s MayFord became the sole distributor of Sakata’s products in South Africa and in December, 1999, Sakata acquired MayFord Seeds.”The subsequent combination has been a formidable one within the sector, amalgamating Sakata’s reputation for its commercial vegetable and flower seed with MayFord’s prowess in the hobby market, as well as the business’s professional turf and rehabilitation grasses.The growth of the business that has been enjoyed in the ensuing years has been so extensive that a new state-of-the art warehouse is just around the corner, symbolising the potential that Sakata Seed Southern Africa has looking…
Sigma Supplies
Ruling the RoostWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Josh Hyland Sigma Supplies has ascended from humble beginnings to become one of the country’s largest fully integrated poultry companies, diversifying and expanding in line with the country’s most pressing industry trends.Established in 1984, the Company was initially producing just 2,000 day-old chicks each week, but a patient - yet proactive - approach to internal development is now epitomised by a varied product range comprising day-old chicks, table eggs, animal feed, processed meat and poultry equipment.The Founder and Managing Director, Dipak Shah is the man responsible for identifying this opportunity and potential over the past two decades, and with the help of a good management structure, extensive investments and refined processes, Sigma is now in a fantastic position to target even further growth in the years to come.Darshi Shah, the Company’s Head of Operations, says: “Growth in Sigma Supplies has been a step-by-step process and a challenging journey which has been completely organically generated.“We have seen various industry trends over the years but the biggest has been the rise of the middle class in Kenya, meaning that more people are able to afford white meat products, as well as eggs, taking the shift away from the traditional maize meal and vegetables diet.”This close monitoring of evolving trends in Kenya, coupled with the aligning knowledge and expertise being fostered in the wider agricultural industry, has also led to Sigma adapting the way it sells, markets and packages its products over the years; all of which being supported by extensive investments which are…
Howden Africa
Bringing World-Class Manufacturing to AfricaWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling Howden Africa has played a significant role in the engineering developments that have taken place on the African continent over the past 65-plus years. Backed by the strength of Howden Group’s global reputation and presence, the African arm of the business has been consistently improving its already comprehensive product and service offering in a sustainable manner.Largely led by continuous improvement strategies including training, product innovation and turnkey service offering, Howden Africa has been investing in its internal processes in order to enhance the business in a modern day Africa. As a consequence of this injection, the Company has witnessed phenomenal growth particularly across the power generation, mining, oil & gas and environmental control markets.“Leveraging Group expertise and our strong financial position, we are working on ways to strengthen our capacities to deliver on any challenge we may face going forward in a developing market. The resulting success is a product of long-term relationships and repeat business across a wide range of applications over the course of Africa’s industrial and infrastructural development,” explains Kudzai Nyangoni, Managing Director of James Howden Holdings Limited.Consisting of four major business units that manufacture a wide range of engineered plant and products for the power, water, mining, construction and oil & gas industries, Howden Africa comprises Howden Power, Howden Fan Equipment, Howden Projects and Donkin Fans; all of which are produced from two world-class facilities in Port Elizabeth and Johannesburg.“In a nutshell, we have a plethora of technical capabilities across the design, manufacture,…
Dunlop Industrial Products (Pty) Ltd
Pursuing Operational ExcellenceWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Arron Rampling The effects of globalisation, rapid technological advancement, a 24-seven culture and the introduction of millennials to the work place (to mention a few paradigm shifts), have had noticeable consequences to the business landscape we find ourselves in. The ability to navigate and thrive in an environment that is volatile requires a different set of leadership skills and an innovative approach to strategy formulation and implementation. Dunlop believes that its people are its greatest competitive advantage and the development of a culture that inspires, retains and attracts the right talent is a top priority for the Company.Following a series of mergers and acquisitions since the 1990s, Dunlop Industrial Products (Dunlop) has made concerted efforts to strengthen and expand its product portfolio and manufacturing operations in order to optimise future growth prospects.Since joining the Company, Managing Director, Trevor Howard-Tripp has played a key part in driving growth within the Dunlop operation. He explains: “Dunlop Industrial Products is now owned by REMA TIP TOP, a German-based organisation with a significant global footprint. REMA TIP TOP is present in 117 countries and has 13 manufacturing facilities globally. We are able to leverage synergies from the Group to help the Dunlop brand globalise its operations in the face of an economy that has slowed down.“We are no longer just a South African Company; our supply now extends to South America, Europe, Australia and Africa. Achieving operational excellence in our manufacturing operations requires skilled and engaged employees, an ideal company structure, clearly communicated supporting systems…
Vodacom Congo : Connecting People and Changing Lives
Connecting People and Changing LivesWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Donovan Smith Since launching its activities in Congo 13 years ago, Vodacom has gradually and increasingly realised its promise of saturating the entire country with its market-leading telecoms services, combining its unparalleled technological expertise with an arguably even more significant social influence on a national scale.Following its inception in May, 2002 the Vodacom Pty subsidiary has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in order to fulfil its aim of galvanising the levels of communication in the country, with the primary goal of making its full range of internationally-acclaimed products accessible to the entire Congolese population.Built upon its “connecting people, creating opportunities and changing lives” ethos, Vodacom’s network in the country now envelops 1,000 cities and 500 villages, comprising a total of more than 12 million subscribers.The person entrusted with overseeing such an extensive influence is the newly appointed Managing Director (MD), Murielle Lorilloux, who has already signalled her intent to expand the Company’s network infrastructure on a business level, while continuing the positive influence that has been established nationwide.“Vodacom has heavily invested in telecommunication infrastructures and has positioned itself as a data-leading company by providing to all Congolese the possibility to communicate and experiment the great power of 3G internet via the undersea cable,” the new MD explains. “Vodacom Congo is a socially responsible corporate that is involved in social welfare, health and education throughout Congo. It also has a privileged partnership with the Congolese Government.“That’s why the company is committed to assisting the government to achieve its objectives.”Currently…
Airtel Niger
Innovation without BordersWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Donovan SmithAs one of the leading telecoms companies on the continent, it should be expected that a business of Airtel’s size would look to keep ahead of the industry curve and innovate across its core service provision year-on-year.However, few competitors can boast the scope and geographic footprint that the Bharti Airtel subsidiary does in Africa, with each operating region benefiting from both Group-wide initiatives, and individual developments in each nation.Bridging 17 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the saturation of not only its core voice and mobile services, but also its continent-wide GSM services - embracing 2G, 3G and even 4G - has led the Company to be one of the most reputable and renowned across all industries, and this is certainly the case in Niger too.With a majority 68 percent market share, Airtel’s dedication to customers, both in the consumer and enterprise space, has evolved with Nigerien trends and demands in mind, all the while maintaining the wider Group’s ethos of being a borderless entity.Established in the country in 2011 via an acquisition of Celtel, and later Zain, Airtel now comprises more than four million subscribers to reach its dominant market share figures; capitalising on what is an equally progressive tech market in the country.The ability to now employ local, skilled staff within its workforce has brought a touch of sustainability to operations, while its capital expenditures and collaborative projects look set to cement the business’s position in Niger for the years to come.Airtel MoneyAs recently as December 2014, 3G+ was…
Cable & Wireless Seychelles : Island Quad-Play Revolution
Island Quad-Play RevolutionWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith Cable & Wireless Seychelles (CWS) is of historical and cultural importance in Seychelles. Commencing operations in the country 122 years ago, CWS is intrinsic to the very history of the country having connected Seychelles to the outside world by deploying the first submarine cable in 1893 for the technological marvel that was the telegraph system.Given the size the Company has grown to and its longstanding presence in the country, CWS is deeply rooted within the community, comprising a 97 percent Seychellois workforce. “Almost everyone in Seychelles knows someone who has worked for us, or indeed someone who is currently working for us. We are highly regarded as a substantial organisation that is known for bringing Seychelles closer to being a fully digital Island, in partnership with the Seychelles Government,” comments Charles Hammond, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Cable & Wireless Seychelles.The Company has evolved in a relatively short period of time to one that utilises all of the relevant technologies that are in demand today including FTTH, FTTC, LTE, 3G and MPLS L3; to deliver voice and the fastest 3G and LTE data in the country, corporate solutions, radio services, fixed line and most recently, television services to its valued customers. All of CWS’ services, including entertainment, can be enjoyed on the move or at a fixed location. According to its own statistics, CWS commands a 72 percent market share of internet data users; however, Google’s estimates are much higher than this, claiming that 80-85 percent of internet traffic in…
Internet Solutions Ghana
A Ghanaian Telco with a Global FlavourWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith Specialising in agnostic technology, specifically connectivity that is individually tailored to the demands of organisations across the enterprise, public sector and SMEs, Internet Solutions Ghana has made significant strides since formation in the country in 2008, with a concerted focus on bringing connectivity, communications and cloud solutions to the local market.Internet Solutions is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Dimension Data MEA, headquartered in South Africa, and the NTT Group based in Japan. The multinational structure enables Internet Solutions Ghana to leverage some of the world’s most innovative end-to-end telecoms solutions and related services and bring them straight to the Ghanaian market.“In the past year, we have witnessed a huge shift not just in connectivity usage, but also in terms of the number of carriers here and the increasing desire for cloud solutions. In reaction to this, Internet Solutions Ghana deployed a number of cloud solutions two years ago and has been experiencing growth ever since. Last year, we reaped the fruits of our thought leadership and were subsequently nominated and awarded the ‘Cloud Service Provider of the Year’ at the Ghana Telecoms Awards in 2014,” says Yvette Adounvo Atekpe, Regional Managing Director (MD) of Internet Solutions Ghana.Since establishment 21 years ago, the Internet Solutions brand has built a presence in South Africa, the UK, Nigeria, Mozambique, Kenya, Uganda and Ghana, with 56 PoPs (points of presence) across the continent. West Africa, in particular Ghana, was identified by the Group as an attractive market due to…
Airtel Madagascar
Customers for LifeWriter: Emily JarvisProject Manager: Donovan Smith Airtel Madagascar has been one of the key beneficiaries of the Airtel Group’s 2014 continent-wide investment programme to contribute more than US$1 billion dollars into Africa’s network infrastructure. As a result of a concerted focus to boost Airtel’s brand presence in the country, along with investments to bring improved 2G and 3G services to the market - with 4G in the future pipeline - the Madagascan arm began to gain subscribers and obtain the leading telco position in a bid to win “customers for life”; achieving profitability for the first time in the financial year 2015/2016.“Madagascar is a country where teledensity, a measurement of how many phones are available per capita, stands at 35 percent. When compared to the African average of 55-60 percent, this figure is among the lowest on the continent and so part of our long-term vision is to raise this number and continue to gain more customers for life as per our Company goals,” affirms Maixent Bekangba, Managing Director (MD) of Airtel Madagascar.Having been Managing Director for almost two years, Bekangba continues to work hard and improve the most loved brand in the country through the extension of the Airtel Group’s SMART network, skilled employees, innovative value-add products and community-orientated presence.“Everything we do is centred around our slogan, Madagascar my Country, Airtel my Network. And in line with this, we are now working on increasing access to telecommunications services, specifically through addressing the voice demand with different packages for different target demographics and increasing the…
Morris Material Handling
Africa’s Lifting LegendWriter: Matthew StaffProject Manager: Arron Rampling Morris Material Handling has spent more than 60 years developing a reputation and brand loyalty within Africa, leveraging more than a century’s worth of expertise to become a living legend in an ever-diversifying range of domains.Committed to providing engineered material handling solutions across a variety of industries in sub-Saharan Africa, from its South African base, the Company has expanded to comprise both the manufacture and supply of specialised lifting equipment via its two divisions; Morris Material Handling and Crane Aid.The global Morris Cranes Group was established in 1884, paving the way for Morris Material Handling SA (Pty) Ltd to break into what was a rapidly evolving South African sector in 1952. Since then, Morris has become a name synonymous with consistency of quality cranes, excellent maintenance credentials and a portfolio of projects carried out for equally renowned businesses in the region.Ultimately, what Morris has fostered is a concerted client and employee loyalty stemming from operational excellence both internally and externally, leading to the legend status that it enjoys to this day.The Company says: “By choosing Africa’s lifting legend you tap into a wealth of knowledge, dedicated experience and industry knowhow, and you enjoy peace of mind knowing that your material handling solution brings value to your business.”Continuous improvementThroughout Morris’s development on the continent, the Company has found a balance between diversification of its service range, while staying true to the offering that made the business so successful in the first place.Traditionally, its reputation has stemmed from its crane provision,…