Lagos – Bosch, a leading global supplier of technology and services, has said that it see high potential in Nigeria and Africa in general and particularly an important long-term growth market.

This was made known at the officially opening it new sales, marketing and service subsidiary in Lagos recently.

Speaking at the event Mr Uwe Raschke, member of Bosch’s board of management said “We see high potential for our business in Africa. Thanks to its rapidly-growing population, low median age, increasing middle class, and optimistic economic forecast we expect a significant demand for Bosch products ‘invented for life’,”

Markus Thill, the Bosch Group’s President for Africa in his speech said that with about 170 million inhabitants, Nigeria is the most populous country as well the largest economy in Africa and that by opening a location in Nigeria, we’re taking a decisive step forward in expanding our presence in West Africa

The company generated sales of some 350 million euros in Africa in 2014. Including the new location in Nigeria, Bosch will have a presence in ten African countries by the end of this year. The company currently employs more than 760 associates in Africa. Depending on the further business development, Bosch plans to increase this figure in the next years.

Focus on food processing, energy, and infrastructure industries

Robert Bosch Nigeria is operating a sales, marketing and service office in Lagos, covering all of Bosch’s four business sectors Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology. The company will particularly focus on catering to demand in the food processing as well as energy and infrastructure industries – working closely with local partners to ensure the best possible customer benefit and, on a larger scale, the benefit of Nigeria’s economy and society.
Developing technical skills in automotive aftermarket sector

In October 2014, Bosch set up an alliance with the Nigerian government organisation National Automotive Council (NAC) in the automotive aftermarket sector to pave the way for the development of technical automotive skills and the establishment of a network of automotive workshops in Nigeria. As the number of cars on Nigerian streets rises, so will the demand for skilled maintenance and stateof-the-art repair workshops.

The two partners plan to offer technical training as well as innovative solutions in the area of workshop and test equipment to the operators of automotive workshops throughout the country. “Our partnership with the NAC demonstrates our long-term commitment to Nigeria. Bosch aims to further develop the technical competences of the local workforce especially in the automotive industry for the mutual success of the Nigerian industry and Bosch’s business in this country,” said Thill.

Bosch in Africa
All four Bosch business sectors – Mobility Solutions, Industrial Technology, Consumer Goods, and Energy and Building Technology – have operations in Africa. The current focus of the company’s manufacturing activities is South Africa, where there are two manufacturing sites, in Brits and Midrand. They primarily manufacture automotive components and assemble packaging machinery. There are additional regional subsidiaries and representative offices in Egypt and Morocco. In 2014, Bosch established a presence in the east African market with the opening of a branch office in Kenya.

The company recently also opened representations in Angola and Mozambique. Furthermore, the opening of a representation in Algeria, Ghana and Tunisia is planned for later in 2015. Bosch has been present in Africa since 1906.
Corporate social responsibility in Africa

Bosch actively promotes talented young people in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2008, it was one of the initiators of Afrika kommt!, an initiative of German industry for junior managers from sub-Saharan Africa.

Since 2008, Bosch has been part of a group of some 20 companies who offer scholarships to African junior executives so that they can spend a year in Germany completing a professional training programme. Since then more than 58 young African have been selected for the programme. The goal of the programme is to foster mutual exchange and learning between budding African executives and German companies.