[Interview] Mike Doria Saya, CEO Grupo Saya Montcuit, Valencia, Spain
Mike Doria Saya has a decade’s worth experience in international trasnsportation, freight, sales and shipments. He is currently CEO of Saya Montcuit Group and General Manager of Global Cargo Line.
His interview with Africa Business Communities:
Would you please introduce Saya Montcuit Group?
GRUPO SAYA MONTCUIT is a group of companies with operations in Europe, Africa and South America, with headquarters in Spain. We transport goods by boat and plane to most locations, buy and sell materials and goods. We offer service in the brokerage business, and we’re specialists in local express delivery.
In which industries does Grupo Saya Montcuit operate and who are your clients?
Principally in transportation and commercial intermediation for small businesses and entrepreneurs.
What are the USP’s of your business?
We try to simplify transportation for all our clients, so that we become a useful business for a particular customer and for a company, with the same guarantees for your business or goods.
Also we facilitate contacts for companies from developed markets that wish to establish a presence in developing countries.
What did you do before starting Grupo Saya Montcuit?
I worked for ten years in international transport, freight forwarding, shipping and international sale of goods. I left this job and started Grupo Saya Montcuit because I needed develop all my ideas and work seriously with Africa.
What can be done by entrepreneurs and governments in general to stimulate the business environment?
There are always improvements to be made to facilitate and improve the business environment. But in a changing world it is important for both businesses and governments work together to try to meet the society’s needs for growth and development. We cannot focus only on profits. We have to worry about the environment around us, because we are part of it.
What’s the best part about doing business with Africa?
Africa is a continent where there are business opportunities at every corner; it is the entrepreneur's paradise.
I am an African living in Europe, so the best part of working with Africa is to spend a lot of time in Africa. But the truth is that I like to see the impact of my work improving the lives of people who benefit from it.
Do you think women entrepreneurs typically have a harder time accessing loans through traditional bank channels?
Unfortunately, yes. We have built a world of men in which women unfortunately have to fight hard to gain entry.
We have to work hard to make the business world more accessible to women, because they come with many fantastic ideas. As an African, I have to recognize the women’s courage has always been the strength of this continent. They are responsible for most of the good things that have come out of Africa.
What can you say about the targets, plans and ambitions of Grupo Saya Montcuit for the rest of 2015?
We’ve got a lot to do yet this year. We are looking to strengthen our presence in Senegal and Cameroon; we began working with these countries this year.
For the last quarter of 2015, we want to create our foundation: KHA (KEEP HOPE ALIVE), which will be our social expression, to help and collaborate with people and communities in the countries of Africa and South America. It will be a way to pass on part of the group profits to improve the lives of those who provide it; it’s like a "quid pro quo". I am very excited about this project.
Do you believe Social Media and the Internet to be a plus to the business environment, as it applies to your industry?
I am totally convinced of this. We are actually working to make the use of internet in the group much better. The past three years we have relied on telephone and face-to -face relationships and we have not done badly, but we need to accelerate growth and reach more people. The internet and social media is the most viable way to do this today.
What expectations do you have for the European and African economies for the rest of 2015?
I can speak of Spain, in which I am resident, and say that the worst of the crisis is over here. Though far from perfect at the moment, going forward one can only see improvement in the economy.
I'm more concerned about the economies of African countries, my country (Equatorial Guinea) included; everything suggests that they will suffer more harshly the effects of this global crisis that Europe and North America are just now recovering from. African economies are more fragile and could lose in a few months what took a decade to achieve.
Africa Business Communities is conducting a series of interviews with CEO's and high-end professionals from Spain and Africa. Are you interested in an interview? Please send an e-mail to Andrea Ayemoba: andrea@africabusinesscommunities.com