HONG KONG, 25 JUNE 2009 – The Asia Pacific is set to lead investment into Middle East & Africa (ME&A), according to the latest research from Cable&Wireless Worldwide.
The survey involved more than 300 multinational companies (MNCs) conducted in June 2009 by research firm Vanson Bourne, on behalf of Cable&Wireless. Senior executive respondents, from corporations based in the Asia Pacific, said that they plan to set up operations in Middle East and Africa (which include the countries in the Arabian Gulf, North Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa and Southern Africa) in a much shorter time frame than their equivalents in North America and Europe.
Out of the total 303 MNCs interviewed worldwide, 18 per cent were headquartered in the Asia Pacific region.
Cable&Wireless’ research has shown that some 60 per cent of the AP companies surveyed are more informed about ME&A and more hungry to grow in the region than North America or Europe. Nearly 70 per cent of Asia Pacific respondents mentioned that they expect to set up operations in the Gulf States and South Africa in the next 18 months. About 60 per cent of the companies also said that they would consider opening up offices in North Africa and Sub-Saharan Africa in the same timescale.
‘East-to-west’ telecommunications
Africa has seen significant submarine cable investment in the region in the last couple of years; five new cables are due to go live in the next 18 months to two years including the recent West Africa Cable Systems (WACS).
Cable&Wireless recently announced its involvement with WACS as part of a consortium that aims to help improve the telecommunications infrastructure both for local businesses in Africa and international businesses moving into the area. This will deliver significant benefit to Cable&Wireless’ multi-national customers in Asia Pacific that are looking to invest in this region.
Nick Lambert, managing director global markets at Cable&Wireless Worldwide, said: “Probably for the first time ever, ‘East-to-west’ telecommunications has emerged as the primary driver of growth in the industry as Asian enterprises expand their business across the world. Emerging markets in Africa and Asia are really the last untapped markets globally. Smart businesses based in the more developed markets in Asia Pacific are looking to these emerging markets for growth.
He said “We deployed our first cables in the region in 1890 and our focus on the African market has not dropped off in the intervening years. Cable&Wireless today has broad geographical coverage across this region including and probably the best architected network of any global network service provider – we are ideally positioned to help enterprises with their telecommunications needs as they expand into this emerging market.”
