Ugandan traders advised to go global

Jul 02, 2015

Charles Brewer, the managing director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa has challenged Ugandan businesses to go global if they want to be sustainable in the long haul.

By Billy Rwothungeyo                                  

Charles Brewer, the managing director of DHL Express Sub-Saharan Africa has challenged Ugandan businesses to go global if they want to be sustainable in the long haul.

“Research shows that the more connected SMEs are, the more they do business internationally, the more safe and sustainable they are,” he said while speaking to journalists yesterday in Kampala.

“The more customers I have, the less risk I also have. When you sell domestically, there is greater risk. If the Ugandan economy suffers and the people’s spending here reduce, you lose out more if you do not have customers in other markets.”

Brewer hinted that many businesses in African countries fear to test the waters of global business because they think it is complex and difficult.

He also cited a lack of motivation as one of the reasons businesses do not want to go beyond the confines of national borders.

 “Motivation is linked to knowledge and understanding,” he said.

The managing director also revealed that the global logistics company will start training local businesses that are interested in doing business internationally.

 “How do I send to China? There is a general lack of knowledge on how to go international, and if you do not know something, you are less likely to do it. If we give them the knowledge, some of them may think about taking their business abroad,” he said.

 “If we can help the SMEs grow from two to four people, from 100 to 150, we are helping to solve the problem of unemployment.”

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