Press release
Irish companies secure deals valued at over €70 million in South Africa and Kenya
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment
Published on
Last updated on
Over 40 Irish companies participating on trade mission across a range of sectors of fintech, agri, telecoms, construction and life sciences.
Enterprise Ireland supported companies announce major new deals this week, as part of Enterprise Ireland’s Trade Mission to South Africa and Kenya. Over 40 leading Irish companies are participating on the trade mission, led by Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation Heather Humphreys TD.
The major new partnerships, deals and office openings being announced this week span the key growth sectors of fintech, agri, education, telecoms, construction and life sciences and include:
Designer Group announce the opening of their new offices in Nairobi and Kampala today which will allow Designer Group a platform to deliver upcoming projects in the region. Designer Group have partnered with a number of East African companies to engineer, procure and construct projects ranging from utility, infrastructure, industrial and sustainable energy. Turnover is expected to reach €13 million in 2019 and €25 million in 2020 of which 80% is already secured.
Designer Group will be working with the local supply chain while engaging in knowledge transfer and upskilling over the coming 12 months. Designer Group is a leading international engineering solutions Group, with operations in Ireland, the UK, Germany, Africa and the United States.
Apache Optics Europe Limited (Apache Optics), a sourcing and supply chain specialist concentrating on the supply of fibre optic related components and services have announced a €27 million contract to supply logistics facilitation and supply chain management services to FutureCom Africa, a design build and implementation networks company who have secured the remit to design, build and operate a national fibre network for The Kingdom of Eswatini.
Apache Optics have been approved as the exclusive logistics and supply chain management provider to FutureCom Africa and all services will be provided from Apache Optic’s offices in Dublin, Ireland.
PiPiT is a secure and private online payment platform helping migrants transfer cash and pay bills overseas at a fraction of the cost and time taken by more traditional providers. PiPiT partners with a number of different payment platforms to provide its service, such as Hygiea Health Insurance in Nigeria and ImpalaPay in Kenya, with thousands of migrants from these and other countries using their service to pay their bills back home.
During the Trade Mission, PiPiT will also be announcing a partnership with Cellulant, a Kenyan digital payments platform. Through PiPiT’s partnership with Cellulant the company will be able to offer those living abroad the ability to pay bills at home, shop online on Kenyan sites, lodge cash to bank accounts at home and convert cash into mobile money.
Nutribio Limited, owned by Co-Op Animal Health Group (CAHG) based in Tullow, Carlow and Norbrook East Africa have signed a manufacturing agreement for the next three years with a value of approximately €1.3 million per annum. Nutribio is the nutrition development, manufacturing and export marketing division of CAHG, an animal husbandry input supply company who deliver solutions that improve the health and wellness of ruminants.
Norbrook East Africa is a 100% owned subsidiary of Norbrook Laboratories, a leading global provider of veterinary products. The deal will create employment in both Kenya and Ireland with further scope for creation of manufacturing facilities locally, following the introduction of product into the East African market.
Welcoming the new deals and partnerships Minister for Business, Enterprise and Innovation, Heather Humphreys said:
"I am proud to be leading a trade mission of world-class companies to South Africa and Kenya this week and would like to congratulate all those who have signed deals so far. Our meetings have served as a clear reminder that, although we are a small country, we make a big impact on the global stage. We have been given a warm welcome and reception, and it has been widely acknowledged that our businesses are at the cutting edge of innovation. The facts speak for themselves when you look at the value of the deals secured. There is a wealth of opportunities for Irish companies on the African continent and I am delighted to see that our participants are leading the way in this regard."
To mark exports of over €3 million per year, Combilift, a major exporter of material handling solutions equipment, hosted an event at Nando's Warehouse in Johannesburg, during which the South African company took delivery of their new Combilift Aisle Masters. Nando's is a South African restaurant chain, specialising in Portuguese food such as peri-peri style chicken dishes. Founded in Johannesburg in 1987, Nando's operates over 1,000 outlets in 35 countries, including Ireland.
Commenting Andrew Maxwell, Combilift Product Manager for South Africa, said:
"Nando's Warehouse selected the Combilift Aisle Master due to its ability to increase storage capacity by 23% and reduce their overall operational costs."
Fexco, the leading independent global provider of DCC and multi-currency (MCP) technologies, have announced an extension to their partnership that will see Fexco’s world class Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) solution provided to Nedbank merchants and their international customers throughout South Africa. Nedbank is a leader in digital payments enablement in South Africa, providing easier and more transparent shopping experiences for visitors to the country.
The DCC technology allows international cardholders to pay for products in their home currency. The solution will also be deployed across more than 4,000 Nedbank ATMs, giving international customers full visibility on the costs of withdrawing money from Nedbank ATMs.
Novaerus, an Irish company manufacturing and selling patented medical-grade air dis-infection solutions, has entered into a distribution partnership with Right ePharmacy for the South African market. Novaerus’s clean air technology reduces the spread of airborne infections making healthcare facilities safer for patients and healthcare workers.
The partnership with Right ePharma, a South African distributor, will drive the uptake and use of Novaerus technology in South African healthcare facilities with the intention of addressing and reducing airborne diseases such as TB.
Leading Socials partnership with Oracle has expanded into Kenya with a signing taking place in Nairobi this week. With many workforce's digital skills gaps widening fast, Leading Social provide digital marketing training worldwide to counteract this. Leading Social training solutions offers learning and development initiatives that upskill teams and partners, in order to improve the customer journey, driving better quality leads and generate more revenue.
Trinity College Dublin have signed a Memoranda of Understanding with the University of Pretoria and a partnership agreement with the International Livestock Research Institute in Kenya in the presence of Minister Humphreys. Trinity’s Vice President for Global Relations Prof Juliette Hussey has also witnessed the signing of a partnership agreement with the University of Cape Town and the University of Stellenbosch.
Sub-Saharan Africa has become an increasingly important region for international student recruitment and is home to many significant emerging markets, notably Nigeria and Kenya.
It was also announced in Nairobi today that an Irish-Kenyan consortium will begin a unique proof-of-concept project focusing on the roles of genetics and fodder in sustainable dairy farming. Granted €1 million in funding by the Irish Government via its Embassy in Kenya and centred at KALRO’s Dairy Research Institute in Naivasha, the project will focus on dairy production at farm level. A particular focus of the project will be on developing an innovation support function within KALRO Naivasha modelled on the Irish system of innovation support on farms.
The consortium is led by Irish Government agency Teagasc, the Agriculture and Food Development Authority, in partnership with its Kenyan counterpart, the Kenya Agriculture and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO). Project support will be provided by Self Help Africa, Sustainable Food Systems Ireland (SFSI) and Greenfield International.
Kevin Sherry, Executive Director, Global Business Development, Enterprise Ireland said:
"The breadth of deals announced during this Enterprise Ireland Trade Mission to South Africa and Kenya very much reflect the opportunities for Irish companies to partner and grow in two major economic hubs which provide a gateway to access Sub-Saharan Africa. With over 40 Irish companies participating on the trade mission, it is focused on providing Irish companies with a spotlight in South Africa and Kenya, including attendance at pivotal events such as Africacom and strengthening ties with existing and new South African and Kenyan partners."
ENDS
Media Contacts:
Conor O’Donovan, Head of Communications, Enterprise Ireland conor.odonovan@enterprise-ireland.com
Louise Cunningham, Corporate Communications and Marketing, Enterprise Ireland louise.cunningham@enterprise-ireland.com / 01-727-2973
Enterprise Ireland is the Irish State agency that works with Irish enterprises to help them start, grow, innovate and win export sales in global markets. Enterprise Ireland partners with entrepreneurs, Irish businesses, and the research and investment communities to develop Ireland’s international trade, innovation, leadership, and competitiveness. In this way, we support sustainable economic growth and regional development and help create and sustain employment in Ireland. www.enterprise-ireland.com