African BusinessReview - February 2015

February 2015

www.africanbusinessreview.co.za

TOP Most V 10 African aluable Brands

SYMBION POWER

ENERGIZING

AFRICA

AFRICA’S RISING STARS IoT CONNECTIVITY WILL CHANGE THE WAY WE DO BUSINESS

COMARCO GROUP

Looks to maintain growth momentum with projects in East Africa and beyond

Big landscapes Inspire big thinking

THERE’S NOTHING LIKE AUSTRALIA FOR YOUR NEXT BUSINESS EVENT. This year we chose Australia for our global congress. It was an easy choice, as Australia’s proximity to Asia gave us the opportunity to attract many new delegates. The program was one of the best in years. New Australian developments in our field attracted a lot of interest and strong international research partnerships were established.

Australia is on everyone’s list to visit, and it lured our highest number of delegates yet. There’s no doubt they’ll be talking about this convention for years to come.

Dr Louise Wong, International Board Member

visit australia.com/businessevents/associations for everything you need to plan your australian event.

EDITOR’S COMMENT

A new era of economic growth and development in Africa W E L C O M E T O T H E L A T E S T issue of African

Business Review. Our cover story this month is an interview with Paul Hinks, Founder and CEO at Symbion Power. Instrumental in developing infrastructure across the African continent, we speak to Hinks about the strides being made when it comes to infrastructure, energy usage and political stability in Africa.

In this issue we take a look at some of the most innovative and inspiring startups in the region and discover how they can help solve challenges across the continent. From online payment systems to Africa’s very own ‘Uber-style’ taxi app, the entrepreneurs behind these businesses could help put Africa on a new path of development and economic growth.

Also in this issue we discuss IoT uptake across the continent and hear from the experts who truly believe Africa could lead the world applying it to real-life situations for beneficial outcomes. Africa relies on connectivity for healthcare, the economy, communication and more – IoT technology is helping it leapfrog more established nations in these sectors.

Enjoy the issue

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CONTENTS

TOP10

MARKETING

Most Valuable African Brands

8

AFRICA’S Rising Stars

22

FINANCE

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AFRICA LEADS THE REST OF THE WORLD by creating a networked economy 5

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CONTENTS

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Company Profiles ENERGY

Symbion Power

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An international power developer that takes a unique approach to delivering electrical infrastructure projects

MANUFACTURING

Water Africa Diversifies Product Range to Fulfil Huge Demand in South Africa and Beyond

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SUPPLY CHAIN

Comarco Group

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looks to maintain growth momentum with projects in East Africa and beyond

CONSTRUCTION

Unicon Development is in the business of doing good 7

MARKETING

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February 2015

AFRICA’S RISING STARS African Business Review takes a look at five of the most innovative startups on the continent in 2015 W R I T T E N B Y: A B I G A I L P H I L L I P S

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MARKETING 2014 WAS AN extraordinary year for African innovation, with more entrepreneurs than ever building businesses that could solve Africa’s problems. According to CNN, startup ventures raised more money from investors in 2014 than ever before – a sign that times are changing on the continent. Entrepreneurs in Africa have attempted to solve (and monetize) problems relating to transportation, employment and accounting among others, and have developed viable solutions that could make a big difference to the African economy.

Below African Business Review takes a look at five startups, which have been cited as viable businesses, which have the potential to bring real change to the region and its population.

Womens tech workshop with Andela Andela, Nigeria Andela helps employers across the world scout talent from Africa.

Not only do they promote talent but help grow it as well by paying individuals to learn to become developers and matching them with global employers. The company has offices in Nigeria and the U.S. Andela’s approach is smart due to the fact there is a desperate need 10

February 2015

for talent in Africa. The country doesn’t have enough developers, let alone quality developers and many universities don’t qualify graduates in technologies for the future. There is also a huge market globally, so this company has a massive opportunity. It’s unique approach to talent management set’s it aside from the competition, plus its global

A F R I C A’ S R I S I N G S TA R S

Using the Snapscan App

outreach gives it scope to grow.

Delivery Science, Nigeria Delivery Science uses analytics and big data to help e-commerce firms manage their inventory and supply chain more efficiently.

The startup offers to manage its clients’ logistics from warehouse inventory to innovative deliveries

solutions, such a track and trace.

The company was founded in 2014 by a team that has successfully launched other startups in the logistics sector. Its knowledge of the industry and importantly, the areas it serves sets it in good stead to capture the booming e-commerce industry in Africa and deliver valuable solutions to its customers.

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MARKETING Snapscan, South Africa This ingenious product offers a service somewhat similar to Apple Pay insofar as it lets people make payments with their mobile phone.

Snapscan works by users taking a photo of a QR code and entering in the amount they want to pay on screen.

Less than a year after launch, Snapscan was being used by 12,000 small businesses and potential for the service is huge. There is an opportunity to leverage Africa’s rapid mobile adoption particularly in the payment and online banking arena. Industry analysts believe Snapscan could expand into other markets and compete with Google Wallet and Apple Pay in Africa.

Caption to the image Sendy motorbike service

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February 2015

Paysail, Ghana Many companies in Ghana still use spreadsheets to organize employee pay, which is time consuming and prone to error. Paysail offers and all-in-one service that comes with Ghanaian tax codes programmed in to make company accounting easier. Not only is this making waves in Ghana, but also has the potential to be rolled out across the continent and even further afield.

A F R I C A’ S R I S I N G S TA R S

Using Paysail App Sendy, Kenya Sendy is an Uber-style motorbike delivery service, which allows users to track where the delivery rider is on a mobile phone app. Sending packages is usually difficult and costly in congested African cities such as Lagos and Nairobi and motorbikes are a local, cheap solution – marry these two elements and you have a viable

and workable business model.

Sendy is in a strong position because it could integrate with growing e-commerce sites in the area. A foreign company such as Amazon could also potentially buy the startup if it expands to Kenya or South Africa and wants to invest in a delivery service that understands the terrain.

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TECHNOLOGY

AFRICA LEADS THE REST OF THE WORLD by creating a networked economy Africa has the potential to adeveloped world by developing innovative IoT applications Writ ten by: ROBE RT SPE N C E

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TECHNOLOGY

BY THE END of 2014, the number of cellular machine-to-machine (M2M) connections in the developing world reached 128 million, which equates to 52 percent of the global uptake of Internet of Things (IoT) technology. Within the next six years this is expected to increase to 60 percent or 575 million connections.

Many analysts believe IoT application in developing nations, including Africa, is due to their ability to leapfrog technological development. In Africa, there were seven million mobile connections of the new technology wave by June 2014, and this number is expected to quadruple by 2020.

Furthermore, reports suggest that IoT tech could generate $1.9 billion in total economic value by the same year. This vast uptake is due in part to the fact that most people on the continent access the Internet from mobile devices.

“In Africa sometimes you can leapfrog and go to the latest in innovation and technology at the same time. It is absolutely excellent,” said Anne Bouverot, GSMA’s Director General.

“M2M started earlier in developed markets but now it is another area that the developing world has overtaken the developed world,” she said.

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February 2015

There has been a global surge in demand for M2M communications, which are being applied across multiple sectors and industries. From remote operating your vehicle to adjusting lighting in your home, from connecting robots on a manufacturing production line to monitoring your health, IoT technology has multiple uses. In Africa however, IoT initiatives have been chiefly used for vehicle tracking, mobile payments and the development of ‘smart cities’.

South Africa, the continent’s most advanced economy, has been the leader in rolling out Internet-connected devices, with the latest project being smart meters for a power utility in the country’s biggest city Johannesburg.

Other African countries are also adopting initiatives quickly, with nations like Rwanda using SIM cards to connect point of sale terminals in remote areas enabling merchants to accept credit or debit card payments.

Overcoming infrastructure concerns Of course, with new technology comes a new set of challenges to overcome. Increased adoption of IoT and implementation of connectivity

A F R I C A’ S N E T W O R K E D E C O N O M Y

strategies in Africa could demand households and businesses to have high-speed Internet connection, something that could pose a challenge due to poor infrastructure.

As Brent Lees, senior product marketing manager at Riverbed Technology says, “In southern Africa the biggest challenge is connectivity.

IoT demands a significant number of homes to have reasonable high speed Internet connections,” he said.

Data security is also something that would need to be well considered and addressed, however, if challenges like this can be effectively overcome, in terms of IoT and future application, the outlook for both businesses and consumers is positive.

New opportunities for the continent In terms of application, IoT also presents a range of stakeholders, including government, utilities and service providers, with the opportunity to better monitor and manage assets.

It empowers them with the capability to automate processes and save on resources and manpower.

Lees says in South Africa and other key regions across the continent early

“In Africa sometimes you can leapfrog and go to the latest in innovation and technology at the same time. It is absolutely excellent” – Anne Bouverot, GSMA’s Director General

adoption has been largely driven by the country’s energy challenge.

“We have seen global utilities already using connected meters to track usage and pre-empt surges in demand or faults. Connected patient systems are already allowing healthcare 17

TECHNOLOGY providers to track the health status of outpatients and adjust treatment or send help where necessary. Every area of life - from work, to transport, healthcare, government service delivery and entertainment - stands to benefit from the innovations and efficiencies possible in a fully connected world,” he explains.

Africa has the potential to leapfrog mature economies A report by Morgan Stanley recently predicted that IoT technology could provide significant opportunity for several large industries and drive potential changes in business models and cost savings. “I believe it’s a great opportunity for us not only to create entire new business models for companies, moving the value proposition from products to services, but to use technology to

“The Internet of Things is about ultimately connecting the unconnected” – Den Sullivan, head of architectures emerging markets, Cisco Systems 18

February 2015

make a real impact at socio-economic level,” said Pfungwa Serima, chief executive officer of SAP Africa.

According to Serima, in the utility sector African companies need to meet the growing demands of urbanising populations and booming industrial sectors. IoT can help with smart metering and distribution, to be able to accurately measure and predict demand and generation.

“In agriculture, we could be using IoT technologies to improve yields. In healthcare, there’s a real opportunity to use IoT to use our human capital more effectively, and deliver better services.

In the capital goods sector, we could be streamlining industrial processes and helping marginal mining operations do more with less,” he continues.

Den Sullivan, head of architectures emerging markets, Cisco Systems, explains that the real value-add in society today is the insight gained from information supply.

“The Internet of Things is about ultimately connecting the unconnected.

Only about one percent of everything that is around us today is connected.

It is about what can be achieved by going beyond machine-to-machine connectivity and moving into the

Many industries could benfit from IoT technology in Africa paradigms of things being connected, then sourcing data, connecting people and using this to enhance businesses processes to effect positive change,” says Sullivan.

While there is acknowledgement that issues like broadband connectivity and accessibility remain challenges, Sullivan believes that things have improved dramatically just in the last few years. “Broadband penetration is key and what we’ve seen is huge bandwidth delivered to the African continent by undersea cables, which now entirely transverse the geography of the continent.

There is also huge momentum around wireless connectivity.”

Sullivan emphasises that Africa has an advantage over other developed markets because it is not weighed down by the legacy of infrastructure issue and the difficulty in embracing change.

“Without having that legacy, Africa can actually leapfrog in a number of areas,” he says.

While Africa is some way away from multiple high tech connected environments across various sectors, the continent is making progress.

There are many examples of how enhanced visibility, acquired through IoT has impacted positively in Africa.

Sullivan points to sectors like mining, agriculture, mobile money 19

TECHNOLOGY Greater connectivity could help monitor energy consumption, healthcare and in home connectoivity

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February 2015

A F R I C A’ S N E T W O R K E D E C O N O M Y

“The Networked Economy is an opportunity for Africa to cut through steps of evolution in the economy and jump straight ahead” – Santina Franchi, VP of Database and Technology, SAP EMEA and government services as compelling use cases in terms of IoT. These are examples of where business analytics has made - and continues to make a difference.

There are numerous possibilities to utilise connectivity and analysis across a range of verticals including healthcare, education and transport.

From an environmental point of view, when lighting and powerhungry appliances such as heaters and air-conditioners are automated to work only when needed, there will be significant savings on power and lower carbon emissions.

Part of a networked economy Santina Franchi, vice president database and technology, SAP EMEA, says some view IoT as one way to define the networked economy – because it is through the Internet that connections and transactions happen.

Being part of the Networked Economy would offer Africa the opportunity to propel economies forward.

“The Networked Economy is an opportunity for Africa to cut through steps of evolution in the economy and jump straight ahead. Instead of looking at making investments in technology for what has been done up until now in the rest of the developed economies, Africa should look at making bold moves into the use of the networked economy that allows for faster and simpler ways to serve customers,” she says.

She believes African enterprises are perfectly positioned to break away from traditional ways of managing IT and on ways of doing business. Banking the unbanked is a new business model the effectively demonstrations how Africa naturally fits into the Networked Economy.

“It is here that Africa could truly lead the rest of the world,” she says.

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TOP 10

MOST VALUABLE

AFRICAN BRANDS Africa is home to many powerful brands, with African Business Review running down 10 of the wealthiest based on Brand Africa’s latest studies

W r i t t e n b y: T O M W A D LO W

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TOP 10

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Game (Retail)

South African discount retailer Game is valued at $191 million by Brand Africa. It is a subsidiary of the JSE listed, Massmart Holdings, Africa’s third largest distributor of consumer goods, the leading retailer of general merchandise, liquor and home improvement equipment and supplies, and the leading wholesaler of basic foods. www.game.co.za

09

Dangote (Conglomerate)

The Dangote Group, based in Nigeria, is one of the most diversified business conglomerates in Africa with businesses in manufacturing (plastics, food and drink), construction (cement production) and supply chain operations.

Its brand value increased by a considerable 17 percent to $253 million in 2014 according to Brand Africa and generated revenue in excess of $3 billion in 2013. www.dangote.com 24

February 2015

MOST VALUABLE AFRICAN BRANDS

08 Tusker (Beverages)

EABL’s (East Africa Breweries Limited) flagship brand and beer. The name came about following the death of George Hurst, a co-founder of Kenya Breweries Ltd, who was killed by an elephant during a hunting expedition in 1922. Valued at $263 million, it prides itself on being 100 percent African in origin, with barley from the Savannah and the Maasai Mara, and spring water from the Aberdare Mountains. www.tuskerlager.com 25

TOP 10

07

Safaricom (Telecommunications)

With over 20 million subscribers and an estimated market share of 67 percent, Safaricom has the widest modern mobile network coverage in Kenya and employs up to 400,000 people directly or indirectly.

It is also East Africa’s most respected company according to PwC and has the largest call centre in Sub-Saharan Africa. Last year brand value increased by nearly a third to some $357 million. www.safaricom.co.ke

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February 2015

MOST VALUABLE AFRICAN BRANDS

05

Castle (Beverages)

One of Africa’s most popular beers made by prolific beverage producer SABMiller, Castle dates back to 1895 and is now valued at $655 million. Today it is brewed in nine countries and enjoyed in more than 40 countries across the world. Other Castle brands include Castle Lite and Castle Milk Stout. www.castlelager.co.za

06

Pick n Pay (Retail)

Listed on the JSE since 1968, Pick n Pay is a family-orientated retailer focusing on groceries, clothing and general merchandise with a range of additional value-added services. Valued at $647 million, the company adheres to three core principles: consumer sovereignty; doing good is good business; and maximising business efficiency. www.picknpay.co.za 27

TOP 10

03

Shoprite (Retail)

Voted South Africa’s top supermarket in the Sunday Times Top Brands Survey every year since 2006, Shoprite has grown rapidly since its inception in 1978 and is now worth $834 million. It is the flagship brand of Shoprite Holdings, which also owns Checkers and MediRite, and prides itself on bringing affordable products to millions across South Africa. www.shoprite.co.za

04

SPAR (Retail)

With more than 1,800 stores across Southern Africa served by seven distribution centres, Spar turned over R55 billion in 2014, up from R47.8 billion the previous year. It has more than 1,000 product lines and as a brand in Africa is valued at $679 million. www.spar.co.za 28

February 2015

MOST VALUABLE AFRICAN BRANDS

02

Woolworths (Retail)

Despite dropping by 12 percent in value when compared to 2013, largely thanks to in-store brand Country Road being split from the main brand, retailer Woolworths

still makes the top two. The company models itself on Marks & Spencer in the UK, selling a range of men’s, women’s and childrens’ fashion alongside an extensive food offering. As a brand it is worth $885 million. www.woolworths.co.za 29

TOP 10

01

MTN (Telecommunications) Valued at $5.4 billion, MTN is the largest telecommunications company in Africa and has been pivotal in opening lines of communication across the entire continent, showing that native technology companies can deliver the operational excellence of global multinational heavyweights.

The region relies heavily on mobile communication for payment, business and healthcare, and MTN has been instrumental in making this possible from an infrastructure and operational perspective, and continues to plough investment into vital projects.

MTN South Africa is part of MTN Group, a multi-national telecommunications company that boasts over 152 million subscribers across its company with operations in 21 countries in Africa and the Middle East. It is the 30

February 2015

only African brand in the Brand Finance Global 500 list.

About 60 percent of MTN South Africa’s population is covered by 3G network technology, covering speeds of up to 42Mbps, while over 98 percent has 2G and Edge coverage. Following the introduction of the enhanced MTN Zone and prepaid data offerings among others, the company’s prepaid customers has risen to over 20 million customers. www.mtn.com

MOST VALUABLE AFRICAN BRANDS

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SYMBION POWER

ENERGIZING

AFRICA

Written by: Abigail Phillips Produced by: Anthony Munatswa

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SYMBION POWER

S Symbion has extensive transmission and distribution experience

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February 2015

ymbion Power is an international power developer that takes a unique approach to delivering electrical infrastructure projects.

With a deep commitment to empowering local communities, the company takes great pride in possessing the knowledge and operational know-how to succeed in some of the world’s most challenging construction environments.

Founded in 2005 by Paul Hinks and Lord Richard Westbury, Symbion’s first project was in Iraq. Hinks had been working in the region for two years as a consultant when many American corporations were leaving the country due to the security risks associated with the conflict there. “Many large American

Photocredit: Sala Lewis, Verve Photography for Symbion Power

120 MW Symbion Power Plant, Ubungo near Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania

companies were hightailing it out of the region due to escalating security issues, making business extremely difficult,” explains Hinks.

During his time as a consultant, before starting Symbion, Hinks had successfully completed six large transmission contracts in Iraq. He had developed ‘a formula’ for working under such difficult security conditions. “When the big companies started leaving I saw a gap in the market so I established a business that combined engineering and security,” he says. The business was built on a foundation of partnership and cooperation and sought to conduct business by working with and improving the lives of local communities.

Even its name – a derivative of the

Symbion Power Symbion Power is a U.S. Independent Power Producer and Engineering Contractor based in Washington, D.C. and has extensive experience working in a highly diverse range of challenging environments from across the African continent to war torn locations including Iraq and Afghanistan.

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Chelsea Group combines security, power engineering, construction, strategic consultancy and managed services companies.

We have been operating for over 15 years and have a proven record of delivering a range of high-end services and products across the Private and Public sectors as well as NGOs. With experience throughout the globe, we employ 8,000 people in over 50 offices across 48 countries;18 in Africa where we have established our first office in 2001. Our in-depth knowledge ranges across the Middle East, Africa, South America and the major international shipping routes.

T: +971 4 43 60 300 E: info@chelseagroupworldwide.com

CTG Global

www.ctgglobal.com CTG Global (CTG) was established in 2004. CTG is a Managed Services Company specializing in Project Management, Human Resources and Crisis Support services in fragile, conflict affected countries. Our global headquarters in Dubai and Africa headquarters in Nairobi serve clients across 23 countries in Africa, Central Asia and the Middle East. CTG’s clients include: Humanitarian Aid and Development agencies; governments; and commercial organisations.

Hart International

www.hartinternational.com Hart is an international security and risk mitigation company delivering innovative, integrated security solutions. Hart provides 15 years of experience in land and maritime security in locations throughout North Asia, the Middle East and Africa where it continues to focus on its development with operations in still growing markets such as Somalia, Kenya and Mozambique.

Erinys Iraq

www.erinysiraq.com Erinys Iraq is a risk management and security services company specialising in complex and high-threat risk mitigation services in Iraq. Since it was founded in 2003, Erinys Iraq has provided high-level and professional security services throughout Iraq to a wide-range of commercial clients and government agencies. These include the oil and gas industry, foreign embassies, NGOs, Iraqi government ministries and commercial enterprises. It enjoys a winning combination of local and international partnership.

Longport Security

www.longportsecurity.com Longport is recognized as a leading aviation security and services company in Latin America and the Caribbean by clients as well as local and federal authorities. With over 17 years of experience, we serve 20 major US, European and local carriers in 14 countries and count the largest five carriers as our clients. Longport currently operates in over 25 international airports in the region and employs over 1,500 people. Longport is also looking at expanding its operations in Africa in early 2015.

Symbion Power

www.symbion-power.com Symbion is a member of the Chelsea Group of companies.

Enigma Alliance

Enigma Alliance is the global strategic consultancy arm of the Chelsea Group and caters to elite and prestigious clients only. The Enigma team brings together an in-depth understanding of security threats with comprehensive international analysis with world-class capability in a range of key security disciplines and industry knowledge along with international engagement strategies / analysis for NGO’s, government and business entities.

NapCap

Chelsea Group’s latest edition NapCap provides world-class portable housing in 40-foot containers that are innovative in design, comfortable, safe, energy efficient and adaptable in many variants for the customer.

Chelsea project to watch CTG and NapCap have teamed up to build a secure and comfortable compound in Somalia. Chelsea Village, currently under construction, is located directly adjacent to the new Mogadishu International Airport terminal and will offer safe, clean and comfortable accommodation for some 200 guests - minutes’ drive to the UN, the UK Embassy and other missions. The facility is expected to take its first guests in mid-2015.

SYMBION POWER

A section of the 400kV Baiji-Al Qaim transmission line

word symbiosis – reflects the basis of the relationship it strives to develop with suppliers, local partners and subcontractors.

A winning formula Despite the volatile situation in Iraq, Symbion began bidding for contracts in some of the areas most affected by the conflict. As a company, Symbion’s aim was to build electricity infrastructure that was so desperately needed by working with the government, businesses and people on the ground. “All of a sudden we found ourselves in a fairly significant position in Iraq.

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February 2015

ENERGY

Stringing the 400kV Baiji - Al Qaim transmission line

We had been contracted to build some of the most difficult projects that had been left behind by other major companies,” Hinks explains.

One of the projects taken on by Symbion was a 400-kilovolt transmission line that ran from Baiji to Haditha and then to Al Qaim on the Syrian border, through Al Anbar Province, which today is occupied by the Islamic State, otherwise known as ISIS. In order to successfully complete the work, Hinks partnered with local tribesmen and made agreements with Sheiks. “They supplied us with the resources we needed to complete the project including the labour, materials and

“We had been contracted to build some of the most difficult projects that had been left behind by other major companies.”

– P aul Hinks, CEO Symbion Power

w w w. s y m b i o n - p o w e r. c o m

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SYMBION POWER

ENERGY

equipment,” says Hinks. “We trained local recruits at a purpose-built engineering school, which was very positively received. This helped us form a bond with the community and it enabled the successful completion of the project.”

Symbion worked in Iraq from 2005 to 2010 where it executed nine large-scale power contracts. “Our work in Iraq truly formed a foundation for our entire business,” says Hinks.

“During that time, we were the only American company working in Al Anbar province and in Sadr City, Baghdad and as such we built a strong relationship with our client, the U.S. government.”

“Our work in Iraq truly formed a foundation for our entire business.”

– P aul Hinks, CEO Symbion Power

110kV Switchyard in Kabul, Afghanistan

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SYMBION POWER

Symbion’s staff are trained to an international standard

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February 2015

A steep learning curve Due to the success of the business in Iraq, the company expanded its operations to Afghanistan. Symbion was the winner of three contracts in the region, one of which was as a sub-contractor for a major American construction joint venture. Aiming to replicate the success of its operation in Iraq, Hinks and Symbion formed a professional partnership with the highly regarded Idaho-based Northwest Lineman College to offer a comprehensive training program to its local Afghan employees.

The experience in Afghanistan was a very steep

ENERGY

Paul Hinks CEO Symbion Power

learning curve for Hinks. Despite the resounding success of the Northwest Lineman College partnership, Symbion faced extraordinary challenges associated with working as a fixedprice subcontractor to a large American JV, which had an expensive cost plus contract with the U.S. government. While Symbion exceeded all expectations in managing a major power construction project in one of the world’s most hostile and corrupt environments -- on Transparency International’s World Corruption Index of 174 countries, Afghanistan shares last place with North Korea and Somalia as the most corrupt -- the company faced obstacles that

Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Symbion Power, LLC, Paul Hinks is the driving force behind the company. He has spent his life in the power industry where he has been responsible for the construction of power plants, transmission lines and substations.

His career spans 30 years and in that period, he has worked in the USA, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

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President Obama speaks at the Symbion Power Plant, Tanzania

“Of course, like any organization we have to make money, but we also want to do good.”

– P aul Hinks, CEO Symbion Power

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February 2015

would have destroyed many businesses. But with the support of its majority owners, it came out the other side stronger and wiser. “Of course, like any organization we have to make money, but we also want to do good. We achieved this in Iraq and proved at the same time we could build critical infrastructure in very difficult circumstances. In Afghanistan, I saw first-hand what can happen when bringing employment, skills and new capacities to less developed countries is made impossible by a business environment where the dominating objective is maximizing profits, and I pledged never to work under such circumstances again,” says Hinks.

ENERGY

A new chapter Armed with this knowledge and experience, Hinks moved forward by focusing on Africa.

In 2010, Symbion bid for a project for the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) - a sister organisation to USAID - and was awarded two large contracts in Tanzania to build 2,000 kilometers of distribution lines and 26 transmission and distribution substations.

Once again community outreach was top of the agenda at Symbion. “In Iraq and Afghanistan we distributed toys and clothes, including soccer kits for the kids, to local communities and we had a great relationship with the indigenous population. We decided to mirror this approach in Tanzania,” says Hinks.

The company developed its own training school in the region, once again working with Northwest Lineman College. “We selected three Tanzanians who had some basic line training, to travel to Idaho and receive training that enabled them to teach to U.S. standards. They learned about management and how to be trainers, while they translated training manuals and presentations into Swahili. They worked alongside the U.S. training staff of Northwest Lineman College.”

It was while working in Tanzania that Hinks decided he wanted to diversify the business. “Instead of being a contractor that gets paid to build electricity infrastructure, I wanted to develop, design, build and operate it and then sell the electricity we

Symbion Power Center, training in Tanzania

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SYMBION POWER Photocredit: Sala Lewis, Verve Photography for Symbion Power

ENERGY

generate and transmit it to the government and in turn to the people,” Hinks says.

In East Africa there is a huge reliance on hydropower, but climate change has driven down rainfall levels. Lower rainfall resulted in power outages across the region, often for up to 18 hours per day.

“This has a profound impact on economies, and of course on the living quality of the people,” says Hinks.

“In Tanzania there was a power plant in good condition that was the subject of a dispute. It wasn’t operating and yet people all over the country were suffering.

I was determined to take over it and help solve Tanzania’s power problems.”

“In Tanzania there was a power plant in good condition that was the subject of a dispute. It wasn’t operating and yet people all over the country were suffering.

I was determined to take over it and help solve Tanzania’s power problems.”

– P aul Hinks, CEO Symbion Power

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Photocredit: Sala Lewis, Verve Photography for Symbion Power

SYMBION POWER Looking to the future In May 2011, Symbion bought the disputed power plant and entered the world of independent power production. Within six months, Symbion owned and operated three power plants in Tanzania, generating 217 megawatts. Hinks chalks that period up as one of his greatest accomplishments.

Building on its success in Tanzania, Symbion started to expand across the continent. In 2013, alongside the Nigerian firm Transcorp and other partners, Symbion participated in an international bidding process to acquire a power plant as part of the Nigerian privatization of the electricity sector. “We bid, we won, and

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720 MW currently under operation and 685 MW in the deal pipeline for 2015

Photocredit: Sala Lewis, Verve Photography for Symbion Power

we took the title of being the only U.S. firm to participate in the privatization, and then as part of a consortium, to operate a power plant in Nigeria. When we took the plant operations over it was generating just 160-megawatts; today it is producing 600-megawatts and by the end of the year capacity is expected to reach almost 1,000 megawatts,� says Hinks.

And Symbion shows no sign of slowing down; it was recently awarded a contract in Rwanda to produce electricity from methane gas found at the bottom of Lake Kivu. The company has also taken on a large project in southern Tanzania to build a transmission line

Symbion CEO, Paul Hinks and then US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tour the Symbion Power Plant in 2011.

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It is equipped with eleven of the fastest and most advanced CNC angle and plate punch and drill lines for fabrication. The galvanizing plant is the most modern and environment-friendly, in the world; offering galvanizing services to third-party customers.

The plant has been operational since May 2012 and is servicing North American customers for tower supply as well as design, testing and third-party galvanizing work.

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Congratulations to Paul Hinks winner of the Bridges to Africa Award at the recent Powering Africa Summit in Washington.

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We look forward to welcoming all investors in the African power sector to Dubai in June www.africa-energy-forum.com/abr

February 2015

MacLeanPower.com

SYMBION POWER Photocredit: Sala Lewis, Verve Photography for Symbion Power

ENERGY

and a 600MW power plant to harness huge gas reserves discovered in the region. “The Mtwara project will take gas from the gas fields, convert them into electricity and then dispatch the electricity into the national grid. Once it is completed, the project will supply the entire south of Tanzania and possibly its neighbors with electricity. It is a huge project with an investment value of $1.3 billion U.S. dollars. The largest investment ever by a U.S. company in Tanzania.

Symbion’s portfolio is growing by the day, along with its reputation as a world-class energy

Symbion specialises in major operational and development projects across Africa

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SYMBION POWER

Ecstatic villagers celebrate the arrival of electricity provided by the Millennium Challenge Corporation and Symbion Power

and engineering firm. Alongside his ‘day job’ as the CEO at Symbion Power, Hinks is also the Chairman of the Corporate Council on Africa.

“I represent the U.S. private sector and their ambitions to invest in Africa. As part of this, I have also been involved in the genesis of the Power Africa initiative, which President Obama launched in July 2013. I work very closely with privatesector businesses, the US government and

“As one of the private sector leaders in the U.S. Government’s Power Africa Initiative, Symbion continues to expand electricity access across sub-Saharan Africa, contributing to economic growth and development on the continent.”

– Paul Hinks, CEO Symbion Power 52

February 2015

Photocredit: Sala Lewis, Verve Photography for Symbion Power

ENERGY

with local government and local communities to ensure the initiative is a success,” he says. “Power Africa is ground breaking and it will see the United States supporting Africa on a grand scale.”

Hinks is still the powerhouse behind Symbion, driving it forward and seeking new opportunities for the business and for the communities in which it operates. Its point of difference comes not from its power-engineering prowess, but from its local engagement and its dedication to give back in the regions where it works. “Symbion will always be motivated by the desire to help the people in the places it works. Our staff enjoys this as much as I do and it makes what we do so much more enjoyable and interesting.”

Daily equipment maintenance at the Symbion Power Plant, Ubungo, Tanzania

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WATER AFRICA Diversifies

Range to Fulfil Huge Demand Africa and Beyond Written by: Tom Wadlow Produced by: Dennis Morales

s Product nd in South 55

WAT E R A F R I C A

Hose storage

W

High quality hoses

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February 2015

ater Africa is making and supplying vital products for civil and industrial projects across South Africa and further afield as it continues to build up assets and grow strongly.

The cornerstone of this has been the companyled manufacturing of hoses from its Johannesburg facility, with new hoses set to enter the market this year. This is not forgetting the continuing trading partnerships with other manufacturers, for whom it distributes products straight to project sites, acting as a one-stop-shop for all contractors.

M A N U FA C T U R I N G G L O B A L

With Directors Wayne Grace and Ronnie Dennison involved in the trading of water pipes, hoses and other related goods and systems since the 1980s, Water Africa came together in 2010 and has not looked back, building on established relationships with clients.

The company is now looking to expand its presence not only geographically across Africa but also in terms of industrial sectors, with mining a particular focus moving forward.

Grace said: “Now we have added the assets

“We are well situated to get to all of our project areas and have extremely good staff throughout the country looking after our businesses” – Wayne Grace, Director, Water Africa

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WAT E R A F R I C A

“Our growth has been driven by civil infrastructure as there is a huge demand for water and sanitation in South Africa and the whole continent” – Wayne Grace, Director for Water Africa

and manufacturing facilities we have a great base and can build around this. We are well situated to get to all of our project areas and have extremely good staff throughout the country looking after our businesses.”

Growing with demand Water is arguably the most precious resource on the African continent, and in South Africa the demand is surging as the country’s economy develops and diversifies.

Water Africa is not only able to provide all necessary hosing and piping products for water services, sanitation, plumbing, building and irrigation projects, but also on hand to train and advise engineers.

“Our growth has been driven by civil

Hoses supplied by Water Africa

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February 2015

Water Africa’s warehouse

infrastructure as there is a huge demand for water and sanitation in South Africa and the whole continent,” Grace added. “It has come from going into the hoses business where we have had around 30-40 percent growth from 2010 to now.

“Because there has been such a big move from rural to urbanisation there is a massive demand for this and a huge backlog that needs to be tackled.

The older systems are not designed to deal with the numbers of people now living in the built up areas.”

Asset base Water Africa manufactures its hoses in Johannesburg, while also participating in joint

40% Business growth since 2010 after going into the hoses business

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WAT E R A F R I C A

The warehouse at Water Africa

ventures in the production of PVC with HMT Projects and Mining Pressure Systems. Further offices in South Africa can be found in Durban, Limpopo, Bloemfontein and Mbombela.

Its own manufacturing facility comprises five exclusion lines, while the company also takes up around 80 percent of production for HMT and 60-70 percent for Mining Pressure Systems, creating products relevant to the projects Water Africa supplies, civil infrastructure and agriculture being two key areas.

New hydraulic hoses will help the business make further inroads into the mining sector this year, a key part of its expansion plans.

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February 2015

M A N U FA C T U R I N G G L O B A L

“We want to move up as far as Tanzania and the Congo through finding agents in those areas,” Grace added. “This will involve going to a lot of mining and industrial shows in those countries where we can explore and find these agents.”

“We are already involved in several agricultural projects in Zambia, Mozambique, Angola and some other countries through third parties.

Now it is time for us to get further into the mining industry as well as this is a great growth area for Africa, and in Zimbabwe we have two contracts already in what is a fast-growing market. It will give our hose factory sustainability.”

Project pipeline Enhancing Water Africa’s growing reputation is a strong portfolio of completed projects across Africa, with Grace adding that the company has anywhere between 30 and 50 separate involvements in programmes going on at any one time.

Such projects vary greatly in terms of size and nature, varying from supply-only and specialist welding to training and full installation.

At the Waterkloof Airbase on the outskirts of Pretoria, South Africa, Water Africa was

Water Africa has a strong portfolio of completed projects

“Now it is time for us to get further into the mining industry as well as this is a great growth area for Africa, and in Zimbabwe we have two contracts already in what is a fast-growing market” – Wayne Grace, Director, Water Africa w w w. w a t e r a f r i c a s a . c o . z a

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WAT E R A F R I C A

Pipes supplied

by Water Africa

“Both mine and Ronnie’s sons are in the business and still in their twenties, and we want them to come into management roles by the time I step aside in about ten years” – Wayne Grace, Director, Water Africa

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February 2015

Wayne and Ronnie at the 2014 end of year function

responsible for the water and sewage works on a project which saw the construction of two new runways. In total the four-year development was worth R250 million to the company.

In terms of delivering products to various works across the continent, Water Africa has its own fleet of 5-8 tonne trucks and also makes use of local transportation companies for heavier loads in partnerships that stretch back for many years.

Grace said: “These are operators we have

M A N U FA C T U R I N G G L O B A L

been dealing with for the last 10-15 years which have grown with us. To successfully trade in South Africa you must get your BEE score and we concentrate our procurement operations on building up a competitive rating. If you don’t have the right BEE score, you will not pick up business.”

The director also has his own team of 75 staff to draw upon, all of which put through various training programmes on equipment, maintenance and new technologies, with the sales team being trained in-house.

Through continuing to supply, train and carry out work at important infrastructure and industry projects across South Africa and beyond, Water Africa looks set to grow off of its manufacturing asset base and into other territories and industries like mining. Such growth potential excites Grace, who believes there are many positive directions the company can take in the coming years.

He said: “Both mine and Ronnie’s sons are in the business and still in their twenties, and we want them to come into management roles by the time I step aside in about ten years.”

The pair have a succession plan in place for sons Ryan and Jermaine to take control of operations, and the future looks bright for when the transition is complete.

Grace concluded: “There are many people looking at investing in this type of industry which opens up possibilities of bringing in partners, listing on the stock exchange and securing extra funding.

This is where building up assets has been vital.”

Company Information INDUSTRY

Manufacturing HEADQUARTERS

Johannesburg FOUNDED

2010 EMPLOYEES

75 REVENUE

N/A PRODUCTS/ SERVICES

Hose/Pipe manufacturing

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Unicon Development is in

the business of doing good The path to become a world-class corporate citizen

Written by: Abigail Phillips Produced by: Richard Deane

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UNICON DEVELOPMENT

Key Personnel

Serge Pereira CEO

Offices Spain

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February 2015

U

nicon Development is a leader in design and construction, delivering turnkey solutions to African clients. Founded in 2001 by President Serge Pereira, the company has developed the capacity, resources and inclination to offer its customers responsive and high-quality, design, build and financial solutions.

Over the last 10 years, the company’s approach has centered on sustainable development, advanced technology and quality. Pereira is a Congolese citizen and a former investment banker. Educated in the U.S. he has a unique viewpoint of the African construction market in sectors such as Education, Real Estate, and Hospitality. Before starting Unicon Development, his father owned a construction firm in Africa

CONSTRUCTION

American University of Central Africa -LIbrary Building

so with Pereira’s financial background and the knowledge of the local construction market, he created a local company with international standards and resources.

“I have always been interested in how the construction market was fairing in Africa. Talking to my father I recognised a lot of problems, for example some Foreign contractors were controlling the market but not providing a quality product,” explains Pereira. “I decided to take the best of our experience and offer a quality service to customers in Africa. Today Unicon offer turnkey solutions to the market and can take projects from market analysis to completion in sectors such as Education, Real Estate, and Hospitality; we even help secure finance.”

“Our success is the result of our collaborative approach. We work with both government and private sector clients to create educational facilities tailored for their objectives” - Serge Pereira, CEO

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5 Star Hotel Camayenne

CONSTRUCTION

Sustainable socio-economic development Serge Pereira is not just focused on construction however; they want to have a positive socioeconomic impact on the regions in which the company operates. The company has extensive experience when it comes to delivering primary, secondary and tertiary education projects – something it has been passionate about from day one. “Education represents the foundations of economic development and is one the pillars of Unicon’s values,” says Pereira.

Its projects range from K-12, boarding schools, educational complexes, to the kind of large-scale developments it undertook for the American University of Central Africa.

“Our success is the result of our collaborative approach. We work with both government and private sector clients to create educational

American University Of Central Africa Campus – Infrastucture Works

American University Of Central Africa - School of Business w w w. u n i c o n d e v e l o p m e n t . c o m

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AnuncioSP_dic2014_DEF_TRAZ.pdf

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February 2015

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UNICON DEVELOPMENT

CONSTRUCTION

facilities tailored for their objectives,” he says.

As well as developing educational establishments, the company also operates a division called Unicon Social Actions, the mission of which is to ‘facilitate sustainable socioeconomic development in Africa’s disadvantaged communities’.

“We strongly believe in development through education,” says Pereira. “Education is the most powerful and effective tool to empower people and transform lives. It brings independence, innovation and prosperity.”

Through Unicon Social Actions, the company helps improve the quality of life, health and

“Education is the most powerful and effective tool to empower people and transform lives. It brings independence, innovation and prosperity.”

- Serge Pereira, CEO

Residential development in Bata w w w. u n i c o n d e v e l o p m e n t . c o m

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UNICON DEVELOPMENT

5 Star Hotel Camayenne

education of local men, women and children by providing opportunities to the community, generating employment, improving professional skills and labor conditions. “We created a sport program that provides children with training facilities and coaching, allowing them to develop confidence, athletic and leadership skills while discovering new sports.

We take pride in contributing to the revitalization of communities and to the well-being of its residents,� says Pereira.

Room at 5 Star Hotel Camayenne

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February 2015

Good starts from within At Unicon, good starts from within. The company offers its employees education opportunities,

CONSTRUCTION

training and progression within the business. “Our people are critical to ongoing development,” says Pereira. “We have a young team and really put an emphasis on education.

“We believe in internal promotion and encourage our employees to think like entrepreneurs. We want people to feel part of the business; they can offer their thoughts and input, make changes and move the business forward with hard work. We also have a bonus and profit share scheme because it inspires a culture of dedication. This entrepreneurial spirit has really moved the business forward,” he says.

“As a company we pride ourselves in wearing the logo on our chests. We are dedicated to offering an honest product and all of our employees support this aim. Sadly, in Africa, many people take advantage of the lack of control, but we pride ourselves in being honest and being different,” he says.

Looking to the future Moving forward, Unicon is dedicated to facilitating growth in Africa but also further afield. Already the business has branched out to United Arab Emirates and Spain and will continue to do so, using the African business plan as a blueprint.

“We are a construction firm first and foremost,” says Pereira. “But we want good quality products and projects in Africa and across the globe. We want to promote quality as a company and as a corporate citizen.”

Company Information INDUSTRY

Construction HEADQUARTERS

Valencia, Spain FOUNDED

2001 EMPLOYEES

Not disclosed REVENUE

Not disclosed PRODUCTS/ SERVICES

Design and Construction

w w w. u n i c o n d e v e l o p m e n t . c o m

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Comarco Group: looks to m

momentum with projects in E Written by: Tom Wadlow Produced by: Richard Deane

comarco

maintain growth East Africa and beyond 75

COMARCO GROUP

This leading marine and specialised contractor is broadening its industry portfolio while continuing to deliver firstclass turnkey and standalone services from its Mombasa heartland

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February 2015

T

he Comarco Group is expanding its industrial and geographical footprint as it looks to build on 44 years of experience in the industry.

Driven by work as far as Brazil, the company has a series of exciting projects in line for 2015, which include a renewed venture in Myanmar, alongside several others outside of oil and gas, allowing it to remain flexible and active in a period of industry uncertainty.

This said, Comarco is in a prime position to supply its unique services to the huge LNG projects ramping up in Mozambique, and Tanzania With continuing growth and corporate maturity, Managing Director Simon Phillips is expanding

E X P L O R AT I O N W O R L D

Comarco Supply Base, Mombasa, Kenya

the group’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activity beyond the valuable community-driven work already underway in Kenya.

“We would like to develop and foster our current growth path over the next five years, and this will mean we can boost our HSE and CSR activities,” he said. “We aim to reach the highest working practices which will have a positive impact on our work force, our customers and the community in which we work.”

Mombasa Hub Key to driving further growth is The Comarco Group’s flagship supply base adjacent to the Port of Mombasa, a crucial hub of activity for both the

Comarco has grown from a 2 to 16 acre mini port since 1975

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COMARCO GROUP

COMARCO GROUP

E X P L O R AT I O N W O R L D

company and clients, from small local operators to blue chip giants including British Gas (BG) and Anadarko.

Having started out as a two-acre site in 1975, it has now grown to a 16-acre facility with is own deep water quay for clients of all sizes, able to accommodate ships up to 130 metres long. The flexibility and control offered by this service hub is an important pull factor for customers.

“If, for example, a client such as BP or Anadarko have a drilling programme they will need a supply base with dedicated berthing, and we provide them with their own mini port so they can work independently of the main Port of Mombasa,” Phillips said.

“They rent the space and we provide the cranes, trucks, forklifts, people, open-air storage and jetty access, whatever they need” – Simon Phillips, Managing Director

Comarco Base in 1974

Salvage tug

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COMARCO GROUP

Marine Construction, Kenya

Stanford Buzzard, seen alongside the Comarco Berth 80

February 2015

“It is a private facility which means they have control over their operations and can maintain the highest HSE standards, which is critical for these companies”.

“They rent the space and we provide the cranes, trucks, forklifts, manpower, open-air storage, warehousing and jetty access, whatever they need, so they can control their shore based operations and ensure they do not encounter delays on their drilling. The cost of offshore drilling

E X P L O R AT I O N W O R L D

can be around $1 million a day so it is paramount that delays and problems do not occur.�

The Comarco Group has embraced the importance of diversifying business away from oil and gas, with Mombasa also being used as a general cargo and logistics springboard for projects in and outside of East Africa. For example, the company helped to supply the World Food Programme, The Red Cross and other international agencies through its port. w w w. comarcogroup.com

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COMARCO GROUP

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Dan-Bunkering is one of the world’s leading offshore bunker suppliers with more than 30 years of experience servicing oil rigs, seismic vessels, construction vessels, cable layers, crew boats, and many other types of vessels across the world.

Even remote areas are within our reach With oil exploration moving to more remote areas, the need for flexible supply infra-structure is significant. Thanks to our experience in the offshore industry combined with a fleet of more than 30 tankers and an in-house chartering department, we can offer you unprecedented supply and storage solutions at offshore or onshore locations worldwide.

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Best quality together with best service is the creed of Rokem.

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COMARCO GROUP

E X P L O R AT I O N W O R L D

From Mombasa and further afield, Comarco, through its several divisions (construction, marine projects, vessels and logistics), can offer clients any number of its varied marine services and is able to provide these on a full turnkey solution, or on a standalone basis with selected component parts to suit the client’s individual requirements.

Marine and general contracting services include supply base management, marine construction, commercial diving services, vessel chartering and cargo haulage.

However, it is The Group’s marine and specialised logistics services which differentiate it from other operators and forms the core brand of Comarco, with Instant Ports, Beach Landings,

Comarco can offer clients any number of its varied marine services

280T P&H Crane Salvage, Canda, Mozambique (2011) w w w. comarcogroup.com

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COMARCO GROUP Stevedoring at Sea, and the patented EBOS for Exposed Beaching Operations leading the service Comarco offers.

Comarco is developing an instant port for the Palma project ‘Comarco and Copenhagen-based Thorco Shipping have established a dedicated subsidiary to provide turnkey solutions for transporting any size cargo to the remotest and most challenging areas accessible by sea.’

Instant Ports In the niche field of “Instant Ports”, Comarco and Copenhagen-based Thorco Shipping have established a dedicated subsidiary to provide turnkey solutions for transporting any size cargo to the remotest and most challenging areas accessible by sea.

Formed in September 2014, Instant Ports combines the expertise of both partners and can draw on a fleet of modern 5,000-20,000 DWT cargo vessels along with cargo barges, tugs, trucks, cranes, forklifts and an experienced workforce as well as the Industry Renowned EBOS. An Instant Port is ideal for oil and gas, exploration and other project-related operations that require an environmentally-friendly, rapidly deployable and removable, beach landing site, especially at remote locations in marginal sea conditions.

Specific services include beach and site surveys, bathymetric and geotechnical surveys, project management and engineering, handling of local permissions and the delivery of heavy lift and out of gauge cargo.

Diversifying A number of other notable projects set for 2015

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showcases the scope of work the company is able to carry out, keeping the project book healthy through an uncertain period for oil and gas exploration and development.

A joint venture with multinational bunkering specialist Dan Bunkering has just been initiated, involving the purchase of an offshore bunkering vessel. The Comarco Pemba, 2,439 dwt, has been delivered to East Africa and is now in operation.

Phillips said: “Dan Bunkering is working in East Africa to help supply the growing number of offshore projects which need fuel, together with seismic and exploration work happening up and down the

Comarco offshore vessel

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Crown Paints

HERE’S TO A COLO U RFU L PARTNERSHIP Crown Paints Kenya congratulates Comarco Group for over 40 years of hard work, dedication and extraordinary growth. We look forward to an even brighter future.

COMARCO GROUP

Size and flexibility With a versatile fleet of over 85 multipurpose vessels, Thorco Shipping is able to accommodate the diverse requirements of any project. In addition to a global presence, the size of our fleet offers our clients great flexibility, as we often have a variety of vessels to choose from for any cargo in a

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particular area. On the shore side, Thorco Shipping offers full flexibility as well. With our highly-skilled personnel and 15 offices spread across the globe, we are available around the clock and always able to deliver fast and reliable transport solutions, to clients from any time zone in the world.

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Thorco Shipping America Inc. Tel. +1 (281) 404 4250 usa@thorcoshipping.com

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Thorco Shipping Brazil Ltda.

Tel. +55 213 388 0837 brazil@thorcoshipping.com

E X P L O R AT I O N W O R L D

coastline, which this vessel can serve in addition to conventional shipping and fishing fleets.”

Comarco Group has also recently invested in a dedicated salvage tug, the CSC Nelson, which at 150t BP is currently the largest of its kind operating on the eastern coast of Africa The Nelson is currently in dry dock in Durban being prepared to be used for long distance towage and salvage. Nelson will be owned and operated

by Consolidated Salvage Company, a Comarco Group company.

Geographically the company is also broadening its horizons, with Executive Chairman Peter Phillips, the founder of the Group, returning to Myanmar to establish a new fully incorporated unit of the business.

“We have spent a lot of time in Myanmar and believe there is great potential there,” the MD

Comarco Tug

Offloading 235-ton portions, Mozambique

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COMARCO GROUP

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February 2015

COMARCO GROUP

E X P L O R AT I O N W O R L D

Comarco’s global footprint

added. “While there is the challenge of limited infrastructure, it also represents opportunities for us to get involved with development of the country and offer our services and experience.”

Other markets the group has already reached include Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, and Malawi and West Africa are possible target destinations for this year.

Giving back As the group continues to grow and have a greater impact in the communities in which it operates, Phillips hopes it can expand its CSR reach and impact.

“Our main CSR activities at the moment are in Kenya, sponsoring events, working with the community and neighbourhood to improve and upgrade the area...”

– Simon Phillips, Managing Director

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COMARCO GROUP

Comarco Supply Base, Mombasa, Kenya

Comarco is working with the communtiy in Kenya

“Our main CSR activities at the moment are in Kenya, sponsoring events, working with the community and neighbourhood to improve and upgrade the area, and developing schools and paying school fees for employees who qualify through a means test,” he said.

“The infrastructure and municipal resources in Kenya has been quite severely stretched in recent times due to urbanization and population growth.”

Comarco teams help to remove litter and clean roads, and are also building a park so children can play safely. A pilot canteen scheme is another initiative that has been received well, providing food, water and sanitation in parts of Mombasa

Company Information INDUSTRY

Exploration World HEADQUARTERS

Mombasa , Kenya FOUNDED

1971 EMPLOYEES

450 REVENUE

Not disclosed

lacking these facilities.

A new sponsoring initiative will see line managers of the 450 workers nominate the brightest company prospects, who in return for at least three years of commitment to Comarco will receive added high-quality training.

Growth will be key both to Comacro Group’s commercial and social success, and Phillips is carrying positivity into the new year on the back of new lines of business being generated from Mombasa and elsewhere as in Myanmar.

He concluded: “I am optimistic and believe that much of the current hesitancy surrounding industry will disappear as 2015 progresses.”

PRODUCTS/ SERVICES

Offshore Marine; Construction; Supply Chain and Logistics

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