Airtel Africa to locate head office in Kenya

By
IT News Africa
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Manoj Kohli, Bharti Airtel CEO and joint MD
Mobile Telecommunications provider, Airtel Africa plans to set up its corporate head office in Nairobi, Kenya.

Manoj Kohli, Bharti Airtel CEO and joint MD briefed President Mwai Kibaki on the company’s plans to relocate him to Nairobi in order to run their mobile business.

“We are optimistic that the strength of the Bharti Airtel brand and the historical Indian connection with Africa will enable us to unlock the potential of emerging markets,” says Kohli.

Kohli says the company is committed to partnering with Kenya and other African governments in order to assist the continent’s plans of bridging the digital divide.

As part of its business strategy in Kenya and across Africa, Bharti Airtel will develop human capital and empower mobile users.

Kohli says Airtel Africa’s strategic partners are also planning to set up and expand new offices in Nairobi.

Kibaki welcomed the decision by Airtel Africa to establish its head office in Kenya indicating that it was confirmation that Kenya is a prime investment destination.

“I want to reassure you and other potential investors of the government’s commitment to provide an enabling environment to do business in Kenya,” said Kibaki.

Zain sold its entire African mobile business in June 2010. The Bharti Airtel and Zain deal excludes operations in Morocco and Sudan.

Brian Adero

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2 COMMENTS

  1. Why does Bharti Airtel Relocate it’s HQ to Nairobi, Kenya?? Is Nigeria not the most populous Nation in the Sub-Sahara and in Africa as a whole!

    Nigeria has over 30 million cell phone subscribers and rising, when will Nigeria reap the rewards of it’s long investments in developing this continent?

  2. I am a Management consultant My researched answer is this:
    This is because, Kenya’s cost of operations is much lower. Rentals, travel expenses are low; Grid power availability is high.
    Apart from this, the cluster of countries where Airtel operates is closer to Kenya than Nigeria.
    But this is no disadvantage to Nigeria. The Nigerian office is an independent office and has a very, very senior management team lead by a very senior stalwart heading it. It really is quite an autonomous office. Airtel attaches greatest importance to Nigeria
    Nigeria is a great country and I really love it. It has 80 million subscribers and it has great people.

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