Archive d’étiquettes pour : Business

Mohammed Al-Salafi as a visiting instructor at the Beni American University

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Mohammed Al-Salafi, Business Analyst und der Länderaufbetragte für Nigera, hielt am 17.02.2018 als Gastdozent einen Vortrag zum Thema Strategisches Management an der Online Beni American University. Die Universität bietet verschiedene Programme an, darunter auch Strategisches Management, welches dieses Semester von Herrn Al-Salafi durchgefüht wurde. Mohammed Al-Salafi wird von nun an jedes Semester dieses Programm unterrichten.

Das Programm soll dazu dienen strategische Denkweisen, sowie die benötigten Fähigkeiten und Methoden zu erlernen die benötigt werden, um kompetente und professionelle Entscheidungen in der Geschäftswelt treffen zu können. Es werden relevante Konzepte, Werkzeuge und Fallbeispiele des Strategischen Managements vorgestellt.

 

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Slide of the month (SOTM) August. Plastic pipes

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During a period of 3 years africon GmbH conducted more than 140 interviews with manufacturers of plastic pipes as well as distributors, hardware stores, construction companies and contractors in 11 countries in west and east Africa. Through all these interviews africon gathered extensive knowledge on the local manufacturing market of plastic pipes, the importation as well as the trends of different materials in different countries.

The following slide shows very well that when entering the African market a company needs a clear strategy for different regions of the continent since trends, developments and market sizes can differ quite a lot between the different regions of this vast continent.

 

Slide of the month (SOTM) July. Investment horizon in Africa

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africon GmbH has made over 130 interviews with sub-Saharan African steel manufacturers between 2016-2017. In these interviews, one of the key issues holding back Western manufacturers was the risk perception of management, reflected in the preferred payback periods of the machinery. The management of steel companies was hesitant to make too large investments in machinery that would require long payback periods, mainly because of political, regulatory and other economic risks. The preferred payback horizon is 2-5 years, whereas most high-end Western equipment requires 8-12 years of payback time in Africa. Providing machines that fits risk perception or intended payback period is one of the main challenges of western engineering companies.

 

 

Germany Africa Business Forum

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On the 23rd of March 2017, Marc Zander, CEO of africon, participated in the Germany Africa Business Forum (GABF) as the moderator of the panel discussion “Germany grows abroad – venturing to Africa for new markets”. In the presence of high ranked African politicians such as the former president of the Republic of Benin, Boni Yayi and the Minister of Mines and Hydrocarbons of Equatorial Guinea Gabriel M. O. Lima, German and African business men and women came together in the prestigious Adlon Kempinski Hotel.

In absence of German politicians, one could assist to very openminded and trustful discussions. So, Mr. Lima expressed his wish that Germans should be “as aggressive as the other nations to show to the Africans that they are interested”. Also, Mr. J.H. Muhindo, Deputy Head of Mission of the embassy of Uganda, stressed the wish of his country that Germany would rather invest into Uganda’s industrialisation than continuing paying traditional development aid as there are many graduated young people in Uganda who were not able to gain suitable jobs. Altogether, the image of a strong and innovative Africa was drawn during the GABF, that stands in extreme contrast to generally published image of a poor continent in need. This was mainly due to the presence of modern and successful African business people such as Erick Yong, Onyeche Tifase or Rebecca Enonchong.

Between the panels, there were many occasions for exchange between the participants of the forum so that newcomers in the German African business scene could benefit from the experiences of established players.

Watch here a video-summary of the fair:

 

africon participates in the GABF

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“The GABF aims at bringing together shrewd entrepreneurs, key opinion leaders and social influencers, CEO’s and selected politicians and non-governmental organisations to develop fresh commercial and social concepts that shape business, as well as economic thought and institutions.” (GABF)

The German-Africa Business Forum is a one-day event enabling exchange between German and African business communities. New potentials for cooperation can be identified during these days but also the interaction between economic, political and social development is discussed. Side by side with African and German politicians and businessmen Marc-Peter Zander, CEO of africon, will be speaking about opportunities of investment in Africa and share his experiences from the private sector.

The GABF will take place on the 23rd of March in the Adlon Kempinski Hotel in Berlin.

 

GABF_program_01.02.2017_REV

Slide of the month (SOTM) March. New vehicle sales in sub-Saharan Africa

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2016_03_30_Slide of the month_automotive

This month our slide shows the strong increase of new vehicles sales in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the past 9 years growth has been almost 70% which led Ford, Daimler, Peugeot and others to increase their presence in Africa. Strongest growth has been in Angola and Nigeria.

 

Slide of the month (SOTM) February. Cultural difference Germany & Nigeria

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2016_02_10_Cultural distances Nigeria

This month we would like to put emphasis on the cultural differences between Nigerian and German business people. Whereas Nigeria is still very hierachical, Germany has got less power distance. This results in the recommendation for German companies to not send junior staff to Nigeria as this might be interpreted of non seriousness.