The Mobile World Congress, an essential event in the world of telephony, was held from 27 February to 2 March in Barcelona, Spain. Over 100,000 people visited the Catalan city to explore the stands of about 3,000 exhibitors scattered throughout the eight halls of Fira Gran Via, including many Chinese, Korean and Japanese brands as well as North African exhibitors.
Networking as a master word
The North African companies attending the MWC mainly offered technology solutions, including the Tunisian companies gathered in the same pavilion. “For us, it is a strategic fair because all the competitors and all the technologies are here, » says Sarah Taleb, marketing Manager of Tritux.” It is from here we can know what are the current innovations in progress and expected ». For this international publisher of solutions for mobile operators, banks and public institutions, the spin-offs are substantial. « We do a very good networking. We have international partners, they gather here, so we can see them at the same place. With respect to business, we must preserve, follow and re-launch. We have already managed to transform leads from the MWC, » she said.
Networking. It is also the word that sticks to the mouth of Nabil Hamaoui, managing director of the Moroccan company Hope 3K. « In Barcelona, we are trying far more to meet African entrepreneurs than European ones because we already have experience in offshore, with Europe where it is hard to compete with the Indians and east-European companies, » says the young entrepreneur. « On the other hand in Africa, we can be very competitive with the Europeans, whether in terms of prices or culture because at the end we are all Africans! »
Constructors Condor and Accent target Africa
The Algerian Condor saw bigger for its second participation in the MWC. About 20 smartphones were presented by the national leader in a stand bigger than last year. With a turnover of around 1 billion euros, the brand now wants to diversify its business and integrate new segments. In this 2017 fair, Condor therefore bet on virtual reality, with the exclusive presentation of two helmets of augmented reality. The company also announced the opening of a first showroom in Senegal in April 2017. The same month, it will also settle in Tunis after having initially proposed December 2016.
The Algerian is not the only one to turn to Africa, as a proof, the ambition of the Moroccan Accent, second in the national market. « We are established in a dozen African countries; We have a branch to Senegal and to the Ivory Coast and distributors in Tunisia, Nigeria, Kenya and a few other countries, » explains Abdelkrim Mazouzi, Managing Director of Accent. The company presented its latest Pearl A6 smartphone sold for € 200, a price that makes technology more accessible, says the MD who participated in the show for the fourth time. « We would like to make 80% export and 20% national. We are targeting Francophone Africa, » he said.
In search for greater visibility, some of these companies can sometimes rely on their governments to facilitate their participation in major international events. During the fair, the public corporation Morocco Export, thus leased a hundred square meter space for several Moroccan companies. « We are supported, » confirms Abdelkrim Mazouzi. « For our stand, we pay hardly 25% and the rest is supported by Morocco Export.
