AHK for Eastern Africa’s Country Director, Maren Diale-Schellschmidt advises German companies to take advantage of the AHK presence in the region to take smart risks to expand.
AHK Eastern Africa has been featured in the July-August edition of Markt und Mittelstand. The publication highlights emerging trends and trendsetters for German small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) known in Germany as the Mittelstand. The German economy is primarily built on and fueled by SMEs.
Whereas it may be difficult and seem risky to tap into a previously untapped foreign market, the rewards could be substantial. This is if you have the right partners on the ground. Toyota, Suzuki and Nissan are major automobile brands with factories in Myanmar. Martin Klose, Delegate for AHK Myanmar, expresses great optimism in the likelihood that other automobile suppliers will also relocate there.
In addition, AHK Eastern Africa Country Director, Maren Diale Schellschmidt, advises German companies to take advantage of the AHK presence in the region to take smart risks to expand. “Although some companies have opened sales offices, there have been no production sites for German SMEs so far. The most frequent first step into a new market, which is the easiest to implement, is cooperation with local sales partners. But this is not without risk. Companies have to take a close look and not accept the best first offer. It is best to be properly advised.” AHK Eastern Africa has a vibrant multi-national team and regional knowledge to assist companies in navigating these expansion risks.