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THINKING BEYOND BORDERS

10/10/2020 11:00:00 By Nathi Gule

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Exposure, constant unlearning and re-learning are critical components of a successful and fulfilling life journey. This comes to mind as today I make a case for cross-border trade and doing global business for all.

When the concept of more local businesses doing business with other countries was first touted and later gained momentum, I was one of those a bit apprehensive of this novel evolution. My feeling, at the time, was that some businesses are actually struggling to be impactful locally, to supply on time and meet demands, then how can they be able to compete and deliver on a global stage?

Fast forward to today. I take my sentiments and words back. This is due to mind-stretching exposure I have had as an official mentor at the Entrepreneurship World Cup 2020 edition.

Businesses

The innovative and award-winning businesses I was exposed to from the different continents in sessions that I led and moderated humbled me.

I will share my full report on this once my tenure on that stage is complete. But for now, let us look at this aspect. Looking at some of the leading local businesses, are they ready to compete on a global stage? Can they share products and services to various countries? Can they consistently supply lots of markets?

Do we have the technological back-up to be able to keep tabs on these emerging global markets? These are but a few of the questions next entrepreneurs need to ask themselves before they venture into business. These are the same questions current entrepreneurs need to ask themselves as they review their growth plans and scalability in this last quarter of 2020. The answer though is simple. We can no longer afford to think only within the borders in terms of any product and service we wish to offer.

The other day a gentleman confronted me on an online business platform asking why I was referred to as a globally accredited business mentor. He said to him it’s a joke to even suggest a liSwati would be globally accredited and further asked who had accredited me.

Thankfully I was on Wi-Fi, love debates and therefore took my time to educate this person on the meaning of the word accredited. Later I showed him and the spectators of this platform proof of my accreditation. He has to date not responded to my responses.

I raise a personal story today because this man represents some of the things that are wrong with our society. Many shudder to think beyond the borders. When they are exposed to anything suggesting going beyond the borders they are quick to sarcastically and rudely question it and punch holes in it without any facts.

It is a perspective issue. It is a mindset setting. It is a misery loves company mentality. It is a stagnancy state of mind that needs to be rebuked. It is distasteful thinking that needs to be discarded with the utmost contempt it deserves.

This is why the tables where what has gone wrong have more people seated there than the tables discussing what has gone right. Equally, gossip that has no news sources has more following than factual news with real people and sources that were interviewed.

Regression

It is a state of mind that contributes to regression than progression and many need to snap out of it. We desperately need to start taking charge of our destinies by concentrating on the good so that it multiplies. By learning and sharing best practices so that we contribute more to the socio-economic development of the country.

Borders reopened last week and with that there are more opportunities for us to dream broader again. Not that we have not been surviving, but now we can truly thrive. Being open minded and thinking beyond boundaries are tonics for growth.

That is why even platforms like the Africa eTrade, need to be understood, supported and utilised. The African e-Trade Group works to empower the African digital economy and this work focuses on a trading platform and capabilities that boost African trade and African exports. What is of good news is that the regional headquarters of the African e-Trade Group for Southern Africa and West Africa have been awarded to the Kingdom of Eswatini and the Republic of Guinea respectively, two member states of the African Union.

Apparently this social enterprise is projecting to have 600 000 SMEs trading on the platform in four years, creating 22 million jobs. This is beyond borders thinking. Have you read about the Africa eTrade? If not, you need to ‘google’ it.

Platform

His Majesty King Mswati III speaking at the launch of the African e-commerce platform is quoted as saying,; “Let Africa have its own large branded platform, equivalent to the likes of Amazon and Alibaba, promoting the production and trade of ‘made in Africa’ goods and services, including quality standards and intellectual property rights.”

This means there are great prospects in store if we explore digital economies. Interestingly, even during the last Eswatini International Trade Fair, His Majesty also reiterated the need for global thinking when it comes to trade.

He even made an example of how greater one company’s revenue would be if a product was sold through to all the African countries instead of only concentrating on the local market. Having interacted with the EWC Top 100 Finalists, I feel that Eswatini truly has her finger on the pulse.

This is the global thinking that all successful businesses are at right now. All the companies I reviewed have products and services that they are distributing to many countries in different continents even if it’s just selling them apps or software. That is how broad minded we need to start pushing as well. Yes the indigenous businesses ideas can still be pursued, but they need to be scalable to a global level.

It is possible and can indeed have a massive impact on our economy. Unlike the gentleman I encountered, who does not believe that Eswatini can go global, we should instead ignore such archaic mindsets and swiftly evolve to beyond the borders. It is where the world is at and it is where we can be to.