Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim: Executive Director, KICK Advisory Services, Mauritius

Who is Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim?

Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim, FCA CF: I am the founding partner of KICK Advisory Services. I have more than a quarter of a century of experience in corporate restructuring, litigation support, mergers and acquisitions, strategic and financial consulting, and fundraising for clients across a broad spectrum of industries, both locally and internationally. Previously I served as Deputy Group Managing Partner of the largest professional services company in Sub-Saharan Africa – BDO in Mauritius, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda, Rwanda, Ethiopia, Madagascar and Seychelles. Having been part of the network, I completed the BDO Global Partner Leadership Program in 2016.

Before working at BDO, I worked as a Corporate and Investment Banking Manager at HSBC Mauritius, during which time I was trained in Hong Kong and Singapore by HSBC in Corporate Loan Analysis and Applied Credit Loans. Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim also held the position of Group Finance Manager at British American Investment Group (BAI). I am an Institute of Chartered Accountants Fellow in England and Wales, winner of the Professional Exam (PE 1) award and received the ICAEW Corporate Finance qualification in December 2006. Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim trained in Operational and Financial Consulting from Arthur Andersen in St Charles, USA and London, and attended the Harvard Business School Program in Management of Professional Services Firms in 2012. In addition to her professional qualifications, I am a founding member of the Mauritius Africa Business Club.

Company Overview: Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim

KICK Advisory Services (“KICK’ ’), a customer-centric boutique consulting firm, was founded in July 2020 by a team with an aggressive passion for driving corporate finance solutions in an era of unprecedented change and volatility. At a time when companies face serious uncertainties, cash flow problems and struggle to understand the dynamics of the changing world, Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim at KICK believe that sailing through the changing winds with a clear guide and focus will smooth your business journey, while offering you the cutting edge in competition to thrive on the new normal. Our technical team combines decades of experience and industry knowledge to bring you the right corporate finance solutions to kick-start your journey in today’s rapidly changing world.

Our commitment and dedication are in our strategy of “putting the customer first”, as its growth drives our growth. We focus on to be a business partner and not just a service provider; so while we focus on putting customers first, we are here to fulfill a CEO’s agenda. We offer a range of corporate finance solutions to fit your business and bring you innovative finance in challenging times. We combine years of industry knowledge across a multitude of industries and across all geographic markets to help transform our clients’ bottom line results and help the Board of Directors meet its agenda by creating and maximizing shareholder value. Our service portfolio includes:

• Assessment
• Advice on mergers and acquisitions
• Fundraising
• Working capital requirements
• Strategic consulting
• Business restructuring services

Africa offers a higher return on investment than any other emerging market: Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim

Frankly, Africa will test your patience. If you’re a big company in India, that won’t make you a winner in Africa’s time horizons. And return models that fit India don’t always work there. Even the most experienced and sophisticated companies can be forced to recalibrate. India is not Africa, India is 1 country, Africa is 54 countries.

With the right local partners, local knowledge and qualified advice from professionals who know the terrain, the likelihood of greater prosperity for investors in Africa will be realized.

What is noteworthy is that Africa had some of the fastest growing economies in the world in 2019 and 2020 is no different.

Source: – Quartz | Details: – IMF

The best performers are South Sudan (8.2%), Rwanda (8.1%), Côte d’Ivoire (7.3%), Ethiopia (7.2%), Senegal (6.8%), Benin (6.7%) and Uganda (6.2%) together with Kenya, Mozambique, Niger and Burkina Faso expect an increase of 6%.

Rising demand: Similar to India, Africa is poised to gain from its middle-class population and demographic dividend. We are seeing a steady increase in business in telecommunications, technology and banking – African consumers have different needs in relation to the Internet and mobile devices. Large markets such as Nigeria, South Africa and Ethiopia have increased interest due to digitization and access to distribution channels is being disrupted. The FMCG that serves the needs of a growing middle class population will succeed because the competitive advantages in India cannot be easily replicated as comparative advantages.

Doing business with Africa is becoming easier: governments have reduced trade barriers, reduced corporate taxes and strengthened regulatory and legal systems.

Africa is diversifying

Although in the early stages, African economies are finally beginning to diversify beyond commodities. They are starting to play in non-commodity areas where they can be competitive, leveraging their talent pool, and efforts are underway to package themselves to attract a broader pool of investors. Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim said.

Africa can lead in sustainable development

Africa is now more prepared and resilient. It’s embracing new technologies and ideas. It is ready to develop flexible fuel networks that generate energy with an abundant mix of wind, solar, hydro and bioenergy, alongside conventional fuels such as oil and gas, which are also abundant. The spectrum of opportunities just widened.

For entrepreneurs and businesses with ideas and an appetite for risk can add value and. Find long-term growth if they are persistent, creative and determined.

Challenges and Counters

After all, Africa has 54 countries with diversity in policies, governments, taxes, cultures, etc, so selecting a country for investment is necessary to understand.

Country targeting is essential:

Connectivity for Commerce
Country risk
Ease of doing business
Cost of doing business
Market size / market growth / potential export markets
existing competition
Researching the market for the product
In-depth understanding of the distribution channel
laws and regulations
Marketing and sales management channel
The way forward and how Kick Advisory can help

Success stories between India and Africa were few and far between. There is a need for opportunistic investments But supported by a clear strategy. It is necessary to enter African markets in partnership with local markets and investors.

The investment must be long-term for existing businesses. Third generation syndrome, strategic alliances are important. Technical interest in the manufacturing sector is on the rise and the use of intermediaries. Law firms, accounting offices and bankers has increased.

For geographic diversification to be successful, the local context must be kept in mind.

The business culture is similar to India, people buy from people.

I personally supported a number of business forays into this incredible continent and accompanied them on. Their journey of definition and expansion in Africa. With Kick Consulting Services.