<div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Patrick</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">I note with a bit of surprise that you've really not responded to any of the points I raised. And by the way I never mooted the point of rescuing KQ. :-) </div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Let me weigh in one last time on this issue:-</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">The KQ saga CANNOT be looked at from a purely commercial perspective. The very competitiveness of the country and the region may well depend on KQ. We cannot piggy ride (pun intended) on someone else to ship and transfer critical human resources and goods in and out of our country. I also recommend that you read the book <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Myth-Capitalism-Monopolies-Death-Competition/dp/1119548195">The Myth of Capitalism</a> to understand the consolidation that is going on in the Airline Industry among others.</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif">Regards</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></div><div><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_signature" data-smartmail="gmail_signature"><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div><div dir="ltr"><div dir="ltr"><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Ali Hussein</font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><b><font face="georgia, serif" size="2">Principal</font></b></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font face="georgia, serif" size="2"><b>AHK & Associates</b></font></p><font size="2"> </font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"> </font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>T<font size="2">el: +254 713 60<font size="2">1113</font></font><br></span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Twitter: @AliHKassim</span><span></span></span></font></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"> </span></font><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>Skype: abu-jomo</span></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span>LinkedIn: <a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" target="_blank">http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim</a></span><a href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" target="_blank"><span style="color:windowtext;text-decoration:none"></span></a></span></font></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><br></span></font></p><p style="font-size:small;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:georgia;color:black">13th Floor , Delta Towers, Oracle Wing,</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:arial"></span></p><p style="font-size:small;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:georgia;color:black">Chiromo Road, Westlands,</span><span style="font-size:9.5pt;font-family:arial"></span></p><p style="font-size:small;margin:0cm 0cm 0.0001pt;background-image:initial;background-position:initial;background-repeat:initial"><span style="font-size:9pt;font-family:georgia;color:black">Nairobi, Kenya.</span></p><font size="2"><span style="font-family:georgia,serif"><span><br><font size="1">Any information of a personal nature expressed in this email are purely mine and do not necessarily reflect the official positions of the organizations that I work with.</font></span></span></font><span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif";font-size:11pt"></span><span style="font-size:11pt"></span> <span style="font-family:"Baskerville Old Face","serif""></span></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><br><img src="https://t.sidekickopen07.com/s2t/o/5/f18dQhb0S7kC8dDMPbW2n0x6l2B9gXrN7sKj6v5KRN6N56jV3Md7bMMN72TN__tFN6s101?si=7000000001704040&pi=7e6c375a-d591-4da1-9797-fa4db66a94a1&ti=null" style="display:none!important" height="1" width="1"></div><br><div class="gmail_quote"><div dir="ltr" class="gmail_attr">On Fri, Mar 8, 2019 at 10:47 AM Patrick A. M. Maina <<a href="mailto:pmaina2000@yahoo.com">pmaina2000@yahoo.com</a>> wrote:<br></div><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpf4284ec4yahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><div></div>
<div>Thanks for weighing in Ali. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Personally I support the idea of rescuing KQ because it is a Kenyan company, employs thousands of Kenyans, and is an important ecosystem component for key sectors like Agriculture, Hospitality and Tourism. <br></div><div><br></div><div>It would have been great if KQ management had generated several options - rather than put all eggs in one (politically volatile) basket which, if it backfires due to political roadblocks, could lead to major losses for investors - including Government - and cause ripples across key sectors (e.g. banking).</div><div><br></div><div>If I were to advise KQ stakeholders, I'd ask them to consider generating additional options (and testing them in parallel) so that they can further reduce the overall exposure for their investments. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Here's one idea (not sure if they have already explored it - but it could be worth a try):<br></div><div><br></div><div>Right now we have UG and TZ trying to build their own airlines (and investing billions in the same - while taking major learning curve risks, yet just next door we have KQ, with 41 years of valuable experience, that needs a bailout). We also have Rwanda, with a tiny economy (1/8th of Kenya) struggling with loss making Rwandair that might never be viable. Then there's ET, which claims to have a profitable business model (though enjoys government subsidies e.g. tax exemption and super-low gov. mandated wages). All these countries are (save for a few random misunderstandings / suspicions) friendly neighbors with shared economic and strategic interests...</div><div><br></div><div>Is it worth trying to revive the idea of "East African Airways" (or something similar) by getting these four neighboring countries to work together with Kenya for scale benefits? Has that idea been explored? <br></div><div><br></div><div>If it works, KQ would get its bail-out, hopefully with less political friction, but could lose its "national flag carrier" status as a trade-off (which it will lose anyway if it goes under). <br></div><div><br></div><div>The idea would require engagement and support at head of state levels (the advantage of that being speed and clarity in terms establishing feasibility / buy-in and moving forward - if there is buy-in). <br></div><div><br></div><div>I think the most important (and pragmatic) goal at this time is to stabilize things, protect local investors' interests (including government) and avoid shocking the economy. So it is worth trying out different options to see what ultimately works best for the country. <br></div><div><br></div><div>Brgds,</div><div>Patrick.<br></div><div><br></div><div>Patrick A. M. Maina<br></div><div><span>[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]</span><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div><div><br></div>
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On Friday, March 8, 2019, 12:27:14 AM GMT+3, Ali Hussein via kictanet <<a href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:
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<div><div id="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709"><div>Patrick and all<div><br clear="none"></div><div>In relation to KQ your argument is flowed. Let me explain why.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>If country specific scale is the issue here then Emirates and Ethiopian (which..surprise, surprise..is a profitable African Airline that has achieved scale).</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>These two Airlines have combined critical air transport infrastructure to give themselves unfair advantage. Ethiopian has executed a mini-hub strategy and acquired stakes in other African airlines. Great strategy and execution, which by the way would not be possible without the Patient Capital of the Ethiopian Government. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Did I hear someone say KAA/KQ merger? </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Ditto with Emirates. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Emirates has been a loss leader for the Emirate of Dubai until very recently. The growth and prosperity of Dubai as a destination was anchored around the Emirates Group which controls the airline and other air transport infrastructure. The strategy has been so successful that today DNATA (<h3 class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709bNg8Rb" style="font-weight:normal;margin:0px;padding:0px;min-height:1px;width:1px"><font size="3"><span>Description</span></font></h3><span>Dubai National Air Transport Association), the Emirates Group subsidiary, provides aircraft ground handling, cargo, travel, and flight catering services across five continents in 70+ airports. </span></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Scale? The only thing that stops us from scaling is that we have been told for so long that we can’t manage our own affairs until we have come to believe it.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Let’s not perpetuate this defeatist attitude. </div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>My two cents. <br clear="none"><br clear="none"><div dir="ltr" id="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709AppleMailSignature"><div><span><b>Ali Hussein</b></span></div><div><span><b>Principal</b></span></div><div><b>AHK & Associates</b></div><div style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium">+254 0713 601113 </div><div style="font-family:Helvetica;font-size:medium"><br clear="none"></div><div><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span>Twitter: @AliHKassim</span></p><span><font></font></span><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span>Skype: abu-jomo</span></p><p style="margin:0in 0in 0pt"><span>LinkedIn: <a shape="rect" href="http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">http://ke.linkedin.com/in/alihkassim</a></span></p><font><br clear="none"></font></div><div><span>"We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, therefore, is not an act but a habit." ~ Aristotle</span></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><span><br clear="none"></span></div>Sent from my iPad</div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709yqt1619824053" id="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709yqt15784"><div dir="ltr"><br clear="none">On 7 Mar 2019, at 11:48 AM, Victor Kapiyo via kictanet <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"><br clear="none"></div><blockquote type="cite"><div dir="ltr"><div>Interesting thoughts Patrick.<div><br clear="none"></div><div><div>We don't offer these services locally, so how will Kenya get paid, if at all? Does KQ taking over local airports help?</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>1. International Vendors (Equipment / Systems / Fuel)</div><div>2. International Hedge funds (e.g. Price / Currency hedges)</div><div>3. International Insurance.</div><div>4. Prioritized creditors (most likely international)</div><div>5. International Airports.</div></div></div><br clear="none"><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709gmail_quote"><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709gmail_attr" dir="ltr">On Thu, 7 Mar 2019, 11:22 Patrick A. M. Maina via kictanet, <<a shape="rect" href="mailto:kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">kictanet@lists.kictanet.or.ke</a>> wrote:<br clear="none"></div><blockquote class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709gmail_quote" style="margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex;border-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204);padding-left:1ex"><div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydp426b56efyahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><div><div><span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">Correction: KQ revenues in 2018 were ~50 Billion. <br clear="none"></div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">Dear Listers,</div></div><span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">Whenever we have a spectacular failure in industry, we rush to attribute it to one or many of the five factors below:</div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span><span>1. Management competence (e.g. manifests through "culture" and/or lack of responsiveness to
new/non-standard challenges; lack of awareness that competence is situational) </span></span><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span>2.
Failed Strategy (e.g. markets respond better to competitors or are
already locked-in. Strategy can fail even where the management is highly
competent.)</span></div>3. Corruption / conflicts of interest
(includes nepotism, procurement challenges e.g. unethical vendor
practices or blatant theft) <br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">4. External factors (e.g. global economic / geopolitical dynamics)<br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">5. Force Majeure (sudden unforeseeable calamities - whether natural or man-made)<br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">I'd like to put forward one reason, unique to Africa, that is seldom raised or addressed, yet it in many cases could be the <u>primary reason</u>
why many African businesses struggle to remain viable despite adopting
business models that succeed in other countries: The biggest obstacle
for most African businesses is the structural operating environment.
Simply put, Africa doesn't scale. <br clear="none"></div><div><div><div><span><span><span></span></span></span><br clear="none"></div><span><span><span></span></span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">* Scale is the reason that KQ's economic doom was <u>sealed in 1977</u> when East African Airways was dissolved.</div></div><span><span><br clear="none"></span></span><div><span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">* Scale (not <span><span><span><span>trust or
delivery infrastructure</span></span></span></span>) is the reason eCommerce <span>simply can't and won't work in Africa (yet works in India) under the current circumstances. </span></div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><span></span><div>Certain types of businesses are<u> simply not viable without scale.</u> It doesn't matter what strategy, caliber of management or whatever else is used. W<span>ithout
scale, you have to swim upstream and perform miracles. No wonder we
tell tourists that Kenya / Africa is "Magical". Only a magician can do
certain businesses in Africa - under current circumstances.</span><div><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">For
example KQ earns<b> ~Ksh. 50 Billion</b> annually. Where does the money go?
Do you know who really benefits from African Airlines failure to
leverage scale? Here's my list:<br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">1. International Vendors (Equipment / Systems / Fuel)<br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">2. International Hedge funds (e.g. Price / Currency hedges)<span><span><span><span><span><span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">3. International Insurance<span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span><span><span><span><span><span>4. Prioritized creditors (most likely international)<br clear="none"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">5. International Airports<span><span><span><span><span><span>.</span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span><span><span><span><span><span><br clear="none"></span></span></span></span></span></span></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span><span><span><span><span><span>The only country that doesn't get paid is Kenya. Due to lack of scale, we end up literally <u><b>giving financial aid to rich countries.</b></u> This is not a smart thing for a poor country to do.</span></span></span></span></span></span><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">Scale benefits are (in part) what makes <b>Delta Airlines</b>, for example, operate with <u><b>double digit margins</b></u>, earn <b>Ksh. 4.4 Trillion</b> in a year (enough to run our country for almost 2 years without borrowing) which translates to <b>Ksh. 1.3 Billion DAILY</b> <b>PBT </b>(profits before tax). Yes, a <u>daily profit</u>
of Ksh. 1.3 Billion. That kind of performance is not magical - it's
just smart application of basic economics and intelligent (strategically
meaningful) politics + policies.<br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><span><span><span><span><span><span>eCommerce? <b>USPS </b>(et. al)<b> </b></span></span></span></span></span></span>operation at scale is what made <b>Amazon </b>possible at scale. Prosperity is not just about efficiency - the <b>size of market</b> <b>matters</b>. It matters a lot!<br clear="none"></div></div></div> <br clear="none"></div></div><div><span></span><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px"><div>Africa combined is the <u><b>8th largest economy in the world</b></u>
yet as individual countries we barely register on the global radar.
Individual African countries are simply not viable. No amount of aid or
borrowing will fix scale deficiencies - in fact, the lack of scale is
what makes our current national debts worrisome and risky! <br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>The
idea of "national pride" carriers is ancient and obsolete. We need
Pan-African Champion Airlines (where countries buy shares in not more
than three Pan-African Airlines - North, Central and South). This would
immediately dissolve the perceived (delusional) national advantage of
self-imposed barriers to open skies and regional trade.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>The
current heavy reliance on international markets is not smart at all (we
are highly exposed to global shocks and geopolitics); it should be
supplemented by sensible and massive intra-Africa trade. <br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div><span><span>Pan-Africanism is not a sentimental idea, it is a rational and intelligent <u>economic strategy</u>.</span></span> It is the only way to create a <u>common and unified mindset</u> that will unlock scale in Africa. <br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Thankfully
a good number of African leaders and technocrats are recognizing these challenges, hence the
<b>AfCFTA </b>(African Continental Free Trade Area) initiative, which requires <span>ratification
of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), the Protocol on the <u>Free Movement of
Persons</u>, and the <u>African Passport,</u> as part of the integration process. </span></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div class="gmail-m_672765490124671153ydpcdace40dyiv5269774709m_-7265689786757506831ydpe4cbfac5yiv5288174486ydpa3ece89ayahoo-style-wrap" style="font-family:"times new roman","new york",times,serif;font-size:16px">As
business people it is in our interest to support these initiatives as
much as we can - but also to be vigilant of powerful (foreign
state-backed) resource-extraction MNCs that would want to hijack or
sabotage Africa's integration because it spoils their centuries-long
plunder party.<br clear="none"></div></div></div></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>How does my argument hold, in view of success stories like Equity and/or Safaricom? <span>In science, we disprove arguments by looking for a 'black swan" (just a single instance of contradiction) - a</span>re
they not the Black Swans? Nope! Equity and Safaricom have certain
common business model aspects which allow them to operate "successfully"
with limited scale. The most obvious being network effects - but there
are other non-obvious factors which are out of scope of this article.
Still these are still <u>tiny and fragile</u> operations relative to their scale-leveraged counterparts which <u>earn tens of billions of shillings in revenues daily (and trillions annually)</u>.
Our culture of mediocrity is what makes us celebrate our (relative)
minions. Failure to think in terms of scale is dangerous.. it leads to
(or encourages) predatory corporate behavior, comfort zones, mediocrity
and other mental barriers.</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Thanks for reading. I welcome your thoughts on the above.<br clear="none"></div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Good day & Brgds,</div><div><br clear="none"></div><div>Patrick A. M. Maina</div>[Cross Domain Innovator | Independent Public Policy Analyst - Indigenous Innovations]</div></div>_______________________________________________<br clear="none">
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