Avnet extends its Africa focus
Dubai, UAE, June 21st, 2011 – Avnet Technology Solutions, the solutions distribution leader and an operating group of Avnet, Inc. (NYSE: AVT), has extended its focus on the fast growing African regionby investing heavily in the resources with a dedicated team of highly skilled sales, technical, financialand marketing professionals to expand its footprint across the continent. Avnet is also expanding itsportfolio 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$25 Billion in 2011. South Africa is expected to grow by 7.5% in 2011, while Egypt will continue to growrapidly at over 15% and the spending in the rest of Africa will grow at 12% to go past US$ 10 Billion in2011.
To keep up with the growth of the continental Africa, Avnet Technology Solutions is also rapidlyexpanding its reach across Africa. Avnet has an office in South Africa apart from direct presence inseveral countries like Egypt, Nigeria, and Morocco.
Sue Campbell, Account Manager-Southern Africa, Avnet Technology Solutions MEA, said, “The SouthAfrica 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 innovativeapproach, 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 aseries of special training programmes called “HP Storage Academy” in association with HP and Brocadein South Africa, Egypt and Kenya.
The Academy received an overwhelming response and was attended by large number of partners hailingfrom 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 addressedthe latest trends, challenges and pain points that partners face in Africa. It also educates the channelpartners 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 toAvnet’s overall growth strategy for the Middle East and Africa region. We are investing heavily inresources to service our partners and provide them with the best of breed technology. Our Value AddedServices model ensures that our partners make decent margins. Programs like HP Storage Academyallow 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 ITInfrastructure, more efficient Storage closely integrated with the Server. It also presented the simpleand easy ways to manage Business Continuity and high availability solutions. Additionally, Avnet inassociation 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 offersflexible financial solutions to its channel partners like Open Trade Credit, Bank Guarantees, IndividualProject Financing and Letter of Credit facilities to add more value to their businesses.
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