Siemens to invest €200m into Africa – CEO
Mr Siegmar Proebstl, Chief Executive Officer of Siemens Africa, says innovation group, intends to invest 200 million Euros as a sign of rededication towards Africa’s growth as its expands its business portfolios on the continent.
This investment will be directed towards building new partnerships with African businesses, enhance local manufacturing capacities and strengthening regional sales teams.
Mr Proebstl was addressing journalists at the African Green City Index, running on the sidelines of COP17 in Durban, South Africa.
He said Siemens will create 500 new green jobs in Africa in the coming years to meet the growing demand for eco-friendly products and services throughout the continent in addition to already established Siemens Wind Power Centre of Competence for Africa and the Middle East in South Africa.
The CEO said Siemens intends to build engineering expertise and the capacity to focus on local skills development and partnerships for the manufacture of various components.
Mr Proebstl said infrastructure and Cities, a market worth over 300 billion Euros has been added to its operational platform from industry, energy and healthcare stating “We need to move from closed island solutions and single products to cross-linked intelligent infrastructure solutions.”
He said the infrastructure and cities sector consist of building technologies, rail systems, mobility and logistics, low and medium voltage and smart grid.
“Siemens answers to Africa’s needs to tackle many of its infrastructural challenges, form industrial automation solutions, potable water and wind turbine technologies that provide clean energy and medical imaging technologies.”
Ms Delia Meth-Cohn, Editorial Director in-charge of continental Europe, Middle East and Africa (CEMEA), said Siemens is the ideal partner for sustainable development and has most comprehensive range of green technologies for the environmentally friendly development.
She said the company generated around 30 billion Euros in the 2011 fiscal year with its environment portfolio alone and has received orders to support sustainable development of Africa’s urban infrastructure.
Mr James Nxumalo, Major of Durban, urged African leaders to embrace emerging green economies to chart a radical course for accelerated development and growth of the continent.
Source: GNA