PAVING THE WAY TO SUCCESS
TBY talks to António Capucho Paulo, Country Manager of Skynet, on the company's infrastructure across Mozambique, the benefits of e-commerce, and possible scenarios for the future.
BIOGRAPHY
António Capucho Paulo joined Skynet in 2008 as a Logistics Consultant and was appointed Country Manager at Maputo Skynet Worldwide Express in 2009. Before this, he held various positions in Mozambique, the US, Portugal, and Angola.How would you describe the growth of the company since last year?
Growth has been difficult in 2015 due to the current economic conjuncture in Mozambique. We have had thus far a 9.26% growth in revenue, which is below our budget but above the current industry forecast.
How many hubs does Skynet have in Mozambique and where are they located?
We have a total of 11—one gateway in Maputo and 10 hubs in Pemba, Nampula, Nacala, Lichinga, Quelimane, Tete, Beira, Chimoio, Vilankulo, and Inhambane, while the province of Gaza is serviced through the Maputo Gateway. Next year we are also opening up a hub in Matola.
Which provinces hold the most potential for Skynet in the next few years?
The provinces with most potential for the future operations of Skynet in Mozambique are Cabo Delgado, Nampula, and Sofala.
What are your strategies to grow in the B2B segment?
We foresee the potential growth to be in two distinct services, international inbound courier parcel express and domestic interprovincial distribution.
What is the importance of an efficient logistics and transport network for the socio economic development of a country?
A country the size of Mozambique has a great importance for the surrounding landlocked countries such as Swaziland, Zimbabwe, Malawi and Zambia, which all need Mozambique's rail and road corridors to connect shipping routes to their respective countries. Therefore, an efficient network is essential not only for Mozambique's socio-economic development but also for its neighbors.
In terms of revenues as well as trading volume, what is the importance of the Mozambican market to Skynet's overall strategy worldwide?
Skynet Worldwide Express is the largest independently owned express network in the world providing flexible and reliable door-to-door services. Skynet's international growth is dependent on the success of each individual country to grow its market share. Africa as a whole and Mozambique in particular has huge potential economic growth and Skynet wants to be part of it.
Electronic commerce is now a multi-trillion dollar business not only for sellers, but also for express courier services. What is the potential of e-commerce in Mozambique?
There is great potential for e-commerce in Mozambique as there is currently very little of it. Skynet has enormous combined e-commerce knowledge and experience throughout the world, which can be rolled out almost overnight into the Mozambican market. We have recently partnered up with a few pilot projects in this field.
What are your estimations for the growth of the express shipping market in the country for the next few years?
We estimate trading volume growth of International Courier Express and Domestic Courier Express to be in the region of 12% and 8% respectively YoY for the period 2017-20.
What differentiates Skynet from its competitors?
Skynet being an independently owned express network has the possibility of being more flexible and in turn providing adapted solutions to client's needs. We have full visibility of live track and trace throughout Mozambique, which is a differentiator in regard to the majority of our competitors and our PMR service awards have distinguished us over our competitors for the past nine years.
What are your expectations for 2016?
I expect 2016 will continue to be a slow year due to the current economic conditions that are expected to extend into 2016. We expect similar trading volumes with revenue increased to inflation. However, when the megaprojects linked to LNG start we expect extra trading volumes to take place.
PAVING THE WAY TO SUCCESS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Review: Economy
Much to Gain
Despite numerous years of considerable economic growth, Mozambique has been unable to retain its wealth and bring more than half of its population out of poverty. Developing one of the world's largest gas reserves and becoming a regional exporter of energy may be the solution.
read articleFocus: Aluminum
Foil Plans
Mozambique is the second-largest producer of aluminum in Africa and the 14th in the world. Since 2000, it has been producing aluminum for export, and in 2015 Midal Cables opened a factory near Mozal; the country's largest aluminum smelter. This could be the start of a Mozambican aluminum value chain.
read articleInterview
Ben James, Managing Director, Baobab Resources
TBY talks to Ben James, Baobab's Managing Director, resident in Mozambique. A geologist by training, Ben has been directly involved with the development of the Company's Tete Project from a greenfields iron ore discovery to an asset on the verge of corner-stoning Mozambique's nascent steel industry.
read articleFocus: Aluminum
Aluminum Legacy
Mozambique is the second-largest producer of aluminum in Africa and the 14th in the world. Since 2000, it has been producing aluminum for export, and in 2015 Midal Cables opened a factory near Mozal; the country's largest aluminum smelter. This could be the start of a Mozambican aluminum value chain.
read articleInterview
Hon. Jorge Olívio Penicela Nhambiu, Minister, Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education (MCTESTP)
TBY talks to Hon. Jorge Olívio Penicela Nhambiu, Minister of Science and Technology, Higher and Technical Vocational Education (MCTESTP), on bringing science and technology to rural areas and increasing research in the country.
read articleFocus: E-government + E-bau
Digital Decisions
Between 2015 and 2016, Mozambique fell five positions in the World Bank's Ease of Doing Business Index. The government is investing in the GovNET and e-BAU platforms to facilitate procedures and cut the costs of acquiring business licenses and improving services provided to the public.
read articleReview: Health
Time for a check-up
Mozambique's healthcare budget rose to $561.5 million in 2015, an increase of 1.1% on expenditure in 2014, accounting for 10.2% of the state budget. Total healthcare expenditure in 2014 was $477.5 million. The Ministry for Health oversees the sector and is responsible for setting the budget each year.
read articleInterview
Dr. João M. Carvalho Fumane, Director General , Hospital Central de Maputo (HCM)
TBY talks to Dr. João M. Carvalho Fumane, Director General of Hospital Central de Maputo (HCM), about the range of services on offer and what is being done to further excellence in the health sector
read articleInterview
Hon. Jorge Ferrão, Minister, Education and Human Development
<span style="line-height: 1.6em; background-color: initial;">TBY talks to Hon. Jorge Ferrão, Minister of Education and Human Development, on the goals of the ministry, the role of local languages, and tackling teacher absenteeism.</span>
read articleInterview
Prof. Doctor João Leopoldo da Costa, Rector, Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (ISCTEM)
TBY talks to Prof. Doctor João Leopoldo da Costa, Rector of Instituto Superior de Ciências e Tecnologia de Moçambique (ISCTEM), on the perils of the internet on education and the quality of its high school.
read articleReview: Tourism
Mozambeach
With white-sand beaches, scuba diving, and game reserves among its wide range of accommodation, Mozambique is a goldmine for tourism. However, to attract the number of tourists the country is aiming for, and entitled to, it will have to compete with its considerably more popular neighbors.
read articleReview: Legal
Smart Choices
Foreign investments are sources of capital, foreign exchange, and technical know-how for developing countries such as Mozambique. Over the past three decades, Mozambique has been successfully striving to ensure a favorable legal framework for foreign private investment.
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