Dimension Data expands into Angola

3 October 2008

Dimension Data has acquired a 51% stake in Angolan IT company Sistemas Redes e Communica��es (SRC), enabling the multinational IT solutions and services provider to expand its Middle East and Africa operations.

The Middle East and Africa region is key to Dimension Data's expansion strategy, and the company already has 25 offices in 12 countries. SRC meanwhile, has been providing technology and communications solutions in the Angolan market for the past 12 years.

The acquisition also marks the launch of Dimension Data Angola, which will be based in the capital Luanda.

According to the Johannesburg-based company, seeking local partners provides them with best practice, expertise and local market knowledge, enabling the company to deliver specialised offerings to their clients.

"Dimension Data has an established track record of delivering world-class technology services and solutions that enable Africans to do great things," said Dimension Data Angola MD Bruno de Carvalho in a company statement this week.

"By combining this with SRC's strong client base and local knowledge and skills, Dimension Data Angola is able to provide more comprehensive services and solutions ideally tailored to the local, Angolan market."

Natural resource wealth

De Carvalho said that the Angolan economy had undergone a period of transformation in recent times, and had emerged as the fastest growing economy in Africa, growth which could be partly attributed to the wealth of its natural resources.

With oil being one of the country's greatest exports, there are many multinational organisations based in Angola, some of which are existing customers of Dimension Data.

"Global businesses require globally linked technology solutions and Dimension Data with its network and experience is able to deliver and take advantage of these market opportunities," said De Carvalho.

He believed that the company could use technology solutions to help Angola improve its competitiveness, promote local economic growth, ensure skills development, and encourage investment in initiatives to improve access to technology.

"Our vision is to bring social and economic opportunities to the millions of people across Africa and the Middle East that are not yet realising the benefits of technology," said De Carvalho.

SAinfo reporter