TMCnet News

SAP to invest USD 500mn in African expansion by 2020 [IntelliNews - Weekly Reports]
[August 20, 2014]

SAP to invest USD 500mn in African expansion by 2020 [IntelliNews - Weekly Reports]


(IntelliNews - Weekly Reports Via Acquire Media NewsEdge) Germany-based global enterprise software group SAP SE plans to invest up to USD 500mn to expand in Africa through 2020, the company said in a statement, unveiling a seven-year growth plan. Much of the direct investment will be outside South Africa, where SAP already has a solid footprint.



Under the plan, SAP will aim to establish the African region as one of its top-five growth markets globally by training up to 10,000 consultants in collaboration with local governments and universities. The company has identified five core countries to focus on - South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya, Angola and Morocco, aiming to benefit from accelerating industry growth in energy and natural resources, utilities, public sector, financial services and telecommunications. It plans to open up to 250 new jobs by 2015, boosting its African staff number from currently around 700. Offices in Angola and Morocco are planned to be opened in 2015. Kenya has been selected as the next market for SAP's Emerging Entrepreneur Initiative, which is targeted at small and medium-sized companies (SMEs).

SAP has currently more than 1,300 customers across the African continent. It believes it can accelerate the roll-out of innovative SAP technology solutions because Africa is in a unique position to absorb technology innovation, including mobile and cloud, as many businesses are not burdened with legacy systems already in place. It believes also that SAP technologies can help Africa address the enormous resource challenges it is facing.


According to global IT research firm IDC, Africa needs solid investment to strengthen its ICT landscape and its ability to compete on a global scale.

(c) 2014 Emerging Markets Direct Media Holdings LLC Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).

[ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]