NAIROBI: Africa's new HQ for multinational firms - Page 4

Ahadu · July 26th, 2011, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xusein

Somalia 1969-1990

Wrong!

Somalia kicked out the commi in 1969. KGB moved & built up its cell between 1969 -1974 inside Ethiopia. Socialism was embraced officially by Ethiopian junta in 1975.

Somalia was a pro West from 1969 to 1991.

xJamaax · July 26th, 2011, 02:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostra

multinationals, I presume. Nairobi is competitive as a regional hub, but many pan-African multinationals will continue to be based in Jozi, its just simply too competitive. Not really trying to negate the good news for Kenya, good for them. It's good that FDI is spread around...

You mean pan-African companies with SA origin like MTN?Then that may be the case.Other pan-African companies would always base their HQs in their country of origin, the SA location is a disadvantage especially due to an increase in development in countries like Kenya.In fact most multinationals will continue leaving SA in the coming years.

buhera · July 26th, 2011, 04:17 PM

Location of headquarters depends on how companies are structured. South Africa and Nigeria for instance are treated as separate from other markets. Unilever used to have a South-East Africa division that excluded SA and had Southern and East African countries under the same leadership. Coca Cola used to have a Central and Southern Africa business group that was organized in the same way. SA and Nigeria are more likely to be standalone business units because of their size.

Nostra · July 26th, 2011, 04:17 PM

No, I meant multi-nationals hoping to setup an African HQ. I have not heard of a single multi-national leaving SA/JHB in order to setup a African HQ in Nairobi. Location is actually not a disadvantage as ORT airport (JHB primaryairport) is one of the most conected in Africa, unless I'm missing something. Anyways I don't want to make this about Jozi, there's more than enough money to go around...

xJamaax · July 26th, 2011, 04:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostra

No, I meant multi-nationals hoping to setup an African HQ. I have not heard of a single multi-national leaving SA/JHB in order to setup a African HQ in Nairobi. Location is actually not a disadvantage as ORT airport (JHB primaryairport) is one of the most conected in Africa, unless I'm missing something. Anyways I don't want to make this about Jozi, there's more than enough money to go around...

I think I will look it up but one notable example is Google that moved from SA to Nairobi.Why do you they did that?There should be something concrete.

MBA-Congo · July 26th, 2011, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BUTEMBO21

DRC (As Zaire) from 1971-2002 and even now the economy is still mostly Socialist.

the whole world is only place that differs is the US.

Nostra · July 26th, 2011, 05:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xJamaax

I think I will look it up but one notable example is Google that moved from SA to Nairobi.Why do you they did that?There should be something concrete.

Hey bro, I don't want to get into a running battle with Kenyans but I think you're mistaken. Google moved its regional office to Nairobi, meaning it used to manage East Africa from elsewhere and it is now moving closer to its market, thus in this context regional HQ means E.Africa and not sub-saharan Africa.

***Xusein*** · July 26th, 2011, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ahadu

Wrong!

Somalia kicked out the commi in 1969. KGB moved & built up its cell between 1969 -1974 inside Ethiopia. Socialism was embraced officially by Ethiopian junta in 1975.

Somalia was a pro West from 1969 to 1991.

Revisionism.

xJamaax · July 26th, 2011, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostra

Hey bro, I don't want to get into a running battle with Kenyans but I think you're mistaken. Google moved its regional office to Nairobi, meaning it used to manage East Africa from elsewhere and it is now moving closer to its market, thus in this context regional HQ means E.Africa and not sub-saharan Africa.

I forgot to mention "Sub-Saharan Africa"as NA is normally not considered "Äfrican" in business sense.

Ok, the office in Nairobi manages Sub-Saharan Africa.The question is, why did they opt for Nairobi than any other city?

Quote:

Google sets up base in Sub-Saharan Africa

By Russell Southwood, Balancingact-Africa, 11 June 2007
IT News Forum
Google is moving outside of the continental comfort zones for most global investors, North and South Africa, and is opening its first operation in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Kenya has been chosen as the base camp for what is likely to turn into a sub-regional business. It has chosen Joseph Mucheru, former CEO of Wananchi to be its Site Lead- Kenya and although he has barely got his feet under the desk, Russell Southwood spoke to him about what Google might be doing, infrastructure initiatives and Kenya's media and communications bills.

Quote:

Google favours Kenya over SA
Google is looking to crack the African market but instead of making a beeline for SA, one of the most developed countries on the continent, they are setting up camp in Kenya.

They have advertised for South African personnel so the chances are good that they will also establish an office in SA but the fact remains that Kenya was their first choice.

One must wonder what made Kenya a more attractive alternative than SA?

I would hazard a guess that Google want to build their own infrastructure and after investigating the situation in SA decided that it would be easier for them to achieve their aims in Kenya.

Whilst Kenya also has an incumbent operator that holds things back somewhat, one gets the feeling that things are still happening over there in the fixed line sector with companies like Kenya Data Networks.

Perhaps Google have identified the Kenyan market as being more open for competing forces or perhaps the country is politically more favourable, whatever the case it is a sad day when SA starts to loose out to rival African players.

I got that from one of SA forums.

mwanamwiwa · July 26th, 2011, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nostra

Hey bro, I don't want to get into a running battle with Kenyans but I think you're mistaken.

Kenyans dont loose running battles.

MBA-Congo · July 26th, 2011, 07:01 PM

Into which direction India, Britian or America? Where do the beggers go?

mwanamwiwa · July 26th, 2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBA-Congo

Into which direction India, Britian or America? Where do the beggers go?

No trolling MBA,just speak your mind in a sober manner.

The E.N.D · July 26th, 2011, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SE9

This trend started gathering pace in 2007, when General Electric, Young & Rubicam, Google, Coca-Cola, Airtel and Cisco Systems relocated their African headquarters to Nairobi. I'm glad to see the trend continuing.

That isn't entirely accurate. I go to business school and as part of of a grad recruitment drive,various MTCs came to present their offers,two of them being Coke and Google.

A lot of the questions we posed to them surrounded the relevance of JHB as a base of operations.Both answered that as much as other cities are gaining traction,JHB will remain viable unless if Malema topples us overnight or something.

Coke's Africa HQ was in London and moved to JHB and unless if the Coca Cola team failed to mention it,JHB remains their base.

The Google team informed us that both the Nairobi &JHB office are of equal importance but major decisions regarding ops,regulations etc are still made down here.

I think there's a lot of ambiguity between continent wide and regional responsibility. I really wouldn't lose a wink of sleep if HQs moved to Harare but I think we should be factual on the information we provide.

Of course,all of this hearsay and it could turn out those executives were just jaded Saffers.

xJamaax · July 26th, 2011, 07:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mwanamwiwa

No trolling MBA,just speak your mind in a sober manner.

By the way, what is he talking about?Is it related to Nairobi?

The E.N.D · July 26th, 2011, 07:11 PM

Oh,Playboy also had recruitment opportunities and that's one opening that all of us wanted!

MBA-Congo · July 26th, 2011, 07:18 PM

why is it a simple word such as INDIA BRITIAN OR AMERICA can provoke an reaction are you a begger to those nations to be provoked. That's me in a sober manner.

mwanamwiwa · July 26th, 2011, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MBA-Congo

why is it a simple word such as INDIA BRITIAN OR AMERICA can provoke an reaction are you a begger to those nations to be provoked. That's me in a sober manner.

Are you here to provoke reactions?You are still not making any sense...

mwanamwiwa · July 26th, 2011, 07:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xJamaax

By the way, what is he talking about?Is it related to Nairobi?

I really dont know.

Hadrami · July 26th, 2011, 08:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by abesha

It seems that West Africa is the region that escaped socialism/communism/etc, during the Cold War. Or am I forgetting some obvious country?

The only countries I know that embraced those leftist ideologies are Tanzania, Angola, Libya and Ethiopia. Who else?

Mali under Modibo Keïta. Guinea under Sekou Touré.

BUTEMBO21 · July 26th, 2011, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hadrami

Mali under Modibo Keïta. Guinea under Sekou Touré.

Talking about majority of WA region or big boys.(Nigeria, Ghana, CI, Senegal.), unlike all Southern Africa, much of EA (Except Kenya).

Not 2 peanuts.

July 26th, 2011, 04:17 PM	#64
Nostra Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Johannesburg Posts: 4,495 Likes (Received): 2635	No, I meant multi-nationals hoping to setup an African HQ. I have not heard of a single multi-national leaving SA/JHB in order to setup a African HQ in Nairobi. Location is actually not a disadvantage as ORT airport (JHB primaryairport) is one of the most conected in Africa, unless I'm missing something. Anyways I don't want to make this about Jozi, there's more than enough money to go around... __________________ "Ex Africa semper aliquid novi" - Nostra the Great

July 26th, 2011, 07:01 PM	#71
MBA-Congo BROKEN ARROWS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MesaWaLesa Posts: 4,050 Likes (Received): 67	Into which direction India, Britian or America? Where do the beggers go? __________________ RUMBLE In DaJUNGLE part trios RADI MUKE. vs Rabbi Nkunda Big Kagame je suis NOUVELLE KABILIST

July 26th, 2011, 07:11 PM	#75
The E.N.D There's cake, right? Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: +27 Posts: 3,324 Likes (Received): 3847	Oh,Playboy also had recruitment opportunities and that's one opening that all of us wanted! __________________ Nkosi, sikelela iAfrika.

July 26th, 2011, 07:18 PM	#76
MBA-Congo BROKEN ARROWS Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: MesaWaLesa Posts: 4,050 Likes (Received): 67	why is it a simple word such as INDIA BRITIAN OR AMERICA can provoke an reaction are you a begger to those nations to be provoked. That's me in a sober manner. __________________ RUMBLE In DaJUNGLE part trios RADI MUKE. vs Rabbi Nkunda Big Kagame je suis NOUVELLE KABILIST

July 26th, 2011, 04:17 PM	#63
buhera Registered User Join Date: Sep 2008 Posts: 2,394 Likes (Received): 373	Location of headquarters depends on how companies are structured. South Africa and Nigeria for instance are treated as separate from other markets. Unilever used to have a South-East Africa division that excluded SA and had Southern and East African countries under the same leadership. Coca Cola used to have a Central and Southern Africa business group that was organized in the same way. SA and Nigeria are more likely to be standalone business units because of their size.