[Interview] Alexander Herring, Managing Director, Safegate, Germany
Alexander Herring is the managing director at Safegate, Germany. He is also a participant in the Africa Business Communities Networking Event in Hamburg 21 September. His interview with Africa Business Communities:
Would you please introduce Safegate?
Founded in 1973, Safegate Group is a global company offering a complete range of solutions for increased safety, efficiency and environmental benefits to airports worldwide. It offers solutions for increased safety, efficiency and environmental benefits to airports around the world. Safegate provides the airport industry with efficient solutions for more and safer aircraft movements, meaning passengers get to their destinations faster and more safely. Safegate Group knows that an integrated airport is an intelligent airport, so Safegate works with all areas of the airport – gate, tower and airside – to offer a complete range of solutions for the smooth running of the airport. With Safegate Group, airport operations can be improved from approach to take off.
Safegate Germany, founded in 2010 and based in Hamburg, has the regional responsibility within Safegate Group for German speaking countries, Belgium and English speaking Africa supported by a local office in Nairobi, Kenya.
In which industries does Safegate operate and who are your clients?
Safegate is active in the airport and aviation industry worldwide. Airports worldwide belong to Safegate’s clients, but also contractors working on airports or airport operators. Specifically on the African market contacts are also established to international financing institution for seeking project or airport development financing.
Why did you start working there?
Airports and Aviation is an amazing highly interesting and exciting activity environment full of challenges at any time, requiring full attention by keeping constant learning process. Being from childhood fascinated by aviation, working in this aviation/airport industry now is probably the continuity of the initial fascination. Further on, although I was not born in Africa, Africa was born in me and thus the combination of my aviation/airport industry activities and specifically the airport industry in Africa become an even more pleasant joint venture. The aviation and airport industry is currently undergoing times of considerable operational challenges and technical changes, but the sector has the talent, the capacity for innovation, and the determination to meet the challenges.
What is your business background?
Having a university degree in law and a degree in business administration from the University of Bayreuth I started my career in the legal sector, while moving in the finance world by finally leading in a more technical business environment, first in a sales function then leading into a general management function.
Have you founded other companies/organizations/activities?
In the course of my career I was involved in the foundation of some companies. In 2009 I co-founded within the chamber of commerce CBL-ACP, a chamber of commerce active with ACP countries, a financing division, which has the task of seeking project financing opportunities in the ACP countries and of informing the Chamber's members. In 2011 I was nominated by the World Bank Group to one of 162 Private Sector Liaison Officer (PSLO). The role of the PSLO includes: facilitating local companies’ contact with the World Bank Group and access to World Bank Group business opportunities; acting as the voice of the private sector in advising the World Bank Group on how to better engage companies on development issues; and disseminating World Bank Group knowledge and research of interest to the private sector.
What can be done by entrepreneurs and government to stimulate the business environment in Africa?
The trend to liberalization and privatization is certainly a major stimulator for any economies lead by the private sector. This can be reached such as by improving the legal framework, such as taxation laws and company registration law, or opening the competitive environment. To stimulate further on import and export it is required to ban any direct or artificial trade obstacles reason of protectionism, but also facilitate procedure and improve response time within public administrations.
What’s the best part about doing business in/with Africa?
Business in Africa is based on trust and relationship, which once established can last forever. As in any trustful relationship it takes time to build up mutual trust. Thus, patience is required, but worth going for it to reach a long-term business development in Africa. Nothing is impossible in Africa. There is always a solution for everything. African way is based on outstanding creativity and endurance to get things done.
Africa is full of potential in various sectors of activities. The population size of the continent is close to the population size of China and its fast growing middle class is triggering the national economies. The continent has a variety of resources, including growing highly educated human resources. Overall it makes an attractive market, even more a market with must to be in.
Specifically in the aviation sector, despite financial crisis, the ash cloud over Europe, the Arab Spring in North Africa, diseases like Ebola or the various security threats, the long-term forecast is that growth might only be delayed but not stopped: traffic is still forecast to double by 2030. With the expansion of air transport at an expected rate of around 5 per cent per year, the sector is likely to continue to generate significant economic impacts in the continent.
Which African countries will perform best in 2015?
Over the last decade, 5 out of the world’s top ten fastest-growing economies were African nations, led by Angola, which grew faster than China, at 11% per year. In 2011, more than a quarter of African countries achieved GDP growth rates of 6% or more. The average African economy will outpace the average Asian economy. Specifically East African Community countries, but also countries in West Africa have exceptional growth rates or at least potentials to exceptional growth rates.
Nigeria is exceptionally growing fast with its over 180 million population and classified as a mixed economy emerging market. Its stock exchange is the second largest in Africa. Nigeria is certainly followed in Sub-Sahara closely by traditionally South Africa, but also by Angola, Kenya and Ethiopia.
For further business interests, contact Alexander Herring
www.de.linkedin.com/pub/alexander-herring/5/a13/8a8
Don't miss the Africa Business Communities Networking Event | Hamburg - 21 September 2015
The Grand Elysée Hotel in Hamburg, located close to the business district and the Alster, is the perfect location to meet with top business professionals operating in Africa. Click and read here all about it.