S04 ATR November 2016 Profile and Report Business_ATR - New Master Template 2016 26/10/2016 17:05 Page 17
ABO CAPITAL | PROFILE
Africa’s global pathway Zandre Campos, chairman and CEO of Angola-based ABO Capital, describes how the company's energy, technology, transportation and healthcare investment trajectories are helping to boost Africa’s global growth prospects quipped with an entrepreneurial wisdom and experience that permeates fast-growing sectors such as telecoms, healthcare and oil, Zandre Campos is well placed to describe the current challenges and opportunities facing Africa’s economic growth path today. As chairman and CEO of international investment firm ABO Capital, de Campos Finda has held the position of CEO at Angola’s Movicel Telecommunications and Nazaki Oil and Gas S.A, and executive in the office of the president of Sonair S.A, a subsidiary of Angolan state-owned oil company Sonangol. He has also been described as one of the most exciting and innovative business leaders on the continent. His experience is indeed significant, as the Republic of Angola is considered the second-largest oil producer in Africa, with activities in this sector alone contributing around 45 per cent of the country’s GDP and over 95 per cent of its exports, according to the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Formerly known as Angola Capital Investments, the name change of Campos’ ABO Capital in August reflects the sizeable growth and evolution of the company over the last four years, with a reach expanding beyond Angola to the wider African continent and now, to the rest of the world. Despite the change in name, Campos says ABO Capital is still following the same path. “ABO Capital’s mission actually remains the same as it always has been – to create global value for developing countries in Africa while contributing to international countries’ economic development. “When we started nearly three years ago the majority of our projects were here in my home country of Angola and now the firm's reach has extended beyond Angola to not only the entire African continent, but the entire world; we have operations in Portugal and Dubai in addition to Luanda.”
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Frontiers of change: energy, transportation and technology ABO Capital’s mission of creating global value for developing countries has seen it focus on a number of industry sectors. In the case of energy, transport and technology, Campos acknowledges the
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importance of the sector to Africa’s economic health and is actively investing in all three. However, he agrees that burdensome infrastructural and connectivity issues can often hold back growth, requiring focus before the continent is able to advance. This is particularly important in areas such as his native Angola. “Investment in energy is important because more than 13 million Angolans, or about 26% of the population, have no access to electricity, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Rural areas, especially those in the rural south of the country, have no access to a grid. Cities and other areas that do have electricity can experience blackouts. “There is also a need for renewable energy. Due to the exceptionally sunny climate, solar energy holds huge potential for Angola, especially in rural areas. The IEA notes in its Africa 2030 report that renewable energy on the continent has the potential to quadruple to 22% – renewable electricity may provide up to one quarter of electricity in Africa by 2040.”
Local expertise, global appeal On a broader scale, Campos says one way to breed global value for developing countries in Africa, while retaining important local expertise
ABO Capital’s mission actually remains the same as it always has been – to create global value for developing countries in Africa while contributing to international countries’ economic development ZANDRE CAMPOS, CEO AND CHAIRMAN, ABO CAPITAL
Zandre Campos, CEO of ABO Capital (Source: ABO Capital)
and appeal, is education. “Young people constitute at majority of the population, and a robust education will create a skilled labour force while encouraging them to remain in their native countries. Countries grow because of education, and a solid education system leads to economic opportunities.” It is these economic opportunities on a geolocal level that ABO Capital is focused on. As a major investor and board member of global healthcare giant Sphera, which develops and implements healthcare solutions for governments, corporations and institutions facing market-specific healthcare challenges, Campos’ focus for the next year is providing solutions to enhance the paradigm of patient care and technology in a bid to “democratise” healthcare services for people in Angola. He says technologies have already been developed including video conferencing, telemedicine, virtual platforms, apps and mobile health. Besides improving communication, the technologies will facilitate quality healthcare regimes by reducing hospital visits. The firm also invests in ETG, an integrated agricultural supply chain that provides a link between farmers and consumers, with services including procurement, warehousing, processing and manufacturing of finished goods, transportation and distribution. Boasting investments and interests worth a reported $100 million in a dozen or so companies, ABO Capital possesses a diversified business portfolio that continues to expand. At the time of writing, the firm was set to announce its first US investments, although Campos remained relatively tight lipped when pressed by African Review. “We will be announcing our US investments shortly. We have invested in two companies, one is a for-profit social enterprise and the other markets an A.I platform for modern legal departments who want to take control of their data – that is all I am able to divulge at this time.” ■
NOVEMBER 2016 | AFRICAN REVIEW OF BUSINESS AND TECHNOLOGY
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