Avnet extends its Africa focus
Avnet Technology Solutions has extended its focus on the fast growing African region by investing heavily in the resources with a dedicated team of highly skilled sales, technical, financial and marketing professionals to expand its footprint across the continent. Avnet is also expanding its portfolio of products, solutions and services for solution providers on the African continent.
A recent IDC forecast states that IT spending on the African continent will grow by 10% to touch US$ 25 Billion in 2011. South Africa is expected to grow by 7.5% in 2011, while Egypt will continue to grow rapidly at over 15% and the spending in the rest of Africa will grow at 12% to go past US$ 10 Billion in 2011.
To keep up with the growth of the continental Africa, Avnet Technology Solutions is also rapidly expanding its reach across Africa. Avnet has an office in South Africa apart from direct presence in several countries like Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco.
Sue Campbell, Account Manager-Southern Africa, Avnet Technology Solutions MEA, said, "The South Africa office of Avnet is the hub for the entire Southern African region and it covers Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Lesotho and Swaziland besides South Africa. With our value add and innovative approach, we have found lot of positive response from the partners across the Southern Africa."
Avnet has introduced a new innovative way to educate the partner community and recently held a series of special training programmes called "HP Storage Academy" in association with HP and Brocade in South Africa, Egypt and Kenya.
The Academy received an overwhelming response and was attended by large number of partners hailing from countries like South Africa, Egypt, Kenya, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Mozambique, Botswana, Swaziland, Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia.
The HP Storage Academy presented an overview of HP Storage portfolio including 3Par and addressed the latest trends, challenges and pain points that partners face in Africa. It also educates the channel partners the importance of designing efficient storage solutions and enhancing their skill-sets.
Mahmoud Al Salhi, Sales Director Africa, Avnet Technology Solutions MEA, said, "Africa is key to Avnet's overall growth strategy for the Middle East and Africa region. We are investing heavily in resources to service our partners and provide them with the best of breed technology. Our Value Added Services model ensures that our partners make decent margins. Programs like HP Storage Academy allow partners to stay abreast with the latest technologies and offers tight solutions to end-users."
The academy highlighted the importance of right Storage Architectures to support Virtualised IT Infrastructure, more efficient Storage closely integrated with the Server. It also presented the simple and easy ways to manage Business Continuity and high availability solutions. Additionally, Avnet in association with Brocade pointed out technical and strategic benefits of HP Storage Networking (iSCI).
Avnet has also introduced its Avnet Financial Services to its partners in Africa. The initiative offers flexible financial solutions to its channel partners like Open Trade Credit, Bank Guarantees, Individual Project Financing and Letter of Credit facilities to add more value to their businesses.
This article was originally posted on Africa ICT & Telecom Network
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