A RECIPE for success
such a diversity of operators within the market. Collaboration between all the different operators encountering different levels of success in different types of circumstances will go on to serve the entire industry. We are in a situation where the operators need to come out and compete based on values. We want operators to be able to put resources together to optimize the value being offered to the consumer. And this can’t happen if the operators are acting alone. In the event the kind of financing an operator needs for a transaction is of such a large amount that it cannot be provided by one bank, there should be synergy between banks. Similarly, if the skills required for a specific transaction are not found in one entity, all the providers of the same kind of service must work together to find a solution. When I say synergy, the industry should compete more, and for that to happen, we need to create efficiencies. If there is one inefficient component, it will have an effect on every other part. OTL Africa provides the platform that can be used to define the framework for effective synergies and collaborations.
Can you tell us about the OTL Africa’s annual resolutions?
At the end of every annual event, we come up with key pointers in terms of what the industry wants. We put all the pointers together in the form of resolutions, which we use to drive advocacy over the course of the next year. In driving that advocacy, we push out these resolutions to the relevant government authorities who take it as the basis for engaging with the public. Beyond that, we also try to hold the government accountable by identifying specific elements of the activities that match the government’s expectations from the resolutions we present. By doing that over a period of time, we can actually get government authorities to develop policies that are in line with the interests of different stakeholders. In case the authorities miss something, we can remind them so that they can go back and take a look; thereby, some progress can be made. In view of the paradigm shift in global energy consumption and demand, the 14th annual edition of OTL Africa in 2020 will focus on expanding energy options in emerging markets. ✖