A NEW APPROACH TO DOING BUSINESS
According to the Department of International Development (DFID), companies who push the boundaries of their core business can gain a competitive edge, as well as get access to new markets through innovative business models.
The new business model of putting development at the core of a companies objective welcomes initiatives that will:
- Generate significant growth in developing countries;
- Improve the quality from its supply chain by helping local businesses in developing countries improve the quality of their output; and - Improve innovations and/or technologies in developing countries making it easier for individuals and businesses in these countries to do business.
Ground breaking initiatives have already been made in this area by companies such as Vodafone which launched M-PESA in Kenya, Afghanistan and Tanzania resulting to improved market reach in Sub-Sahara Africa and Central Asia - with the potential to reach over 40 million customers.
Marks and Spencer (a leading British retail brand) has seen increased productivity gains, stability gains down the supply chain and differentiation gains from its PLAN A initiative which has moved beyond old-style philanthropy and corporate social responsibility, towards a long term goal of building a sustainable business - in the full commercial, social and environmental sense of the term - through core business development. AFRI will support your company to streghten its supply chain by helping you develop your partner company in East and Central Africa through management training, Capacity Building and Market Intelligence / Research services that help you understand or gain insight into unique aspects of the market.