A continent rich in natural resources, available manpower with a growing population and multiple emerging markets, typically offering a high return on investment, positions Africa as a highly attractive investment destination.
Security and safety risks are two of the key reasons companies are hesitant to invest in emerging markets.
- Business venture requires direct engagement, and travelling to unfamiliar or potentially high-risk locations is critical for key company personnel. Here, the fear of crime, kidnappings, hijackings, and political unrest surfaces and the company has another problem to solve – how to protect their most valuable asset, human capital, while travelling.
- Not only is duty of care a company’s legal, and always moral, obligation to its staff, but also a financial one. Investing in proper safety, security and risk management can help avoid significantly higher costs down the line if something goes very wrong.
- The best talent will naturally be attracted to, and stay in, an organisation where they are respected, protected and where staff are given the peace of mind to conduct business without stress.
The value of providing the right security allows businesses to take advantage of a wealth of new opportunities abroad, protects those who conduct it, and get one step ahead in a market which fewer are willing to take advantage of.