Maravi

Maintain business networks, Fundanga urges entrepreneurs

Maintain business networks, Fundanga urges entrepreneurs
Written by Kabanda Chulu
Thursday, November 27, 2008 11:38:02 AM

Fundanga has urged local entrepreneurs to enhance and maintain proper business networks to remain profitable. During the launch of the Alumni Portal Deutschland on Tuesday, Dr Fundanga said the absence of effective networks was costly to many businesses.

He said most Zambian businesses had dwindled due to a lack of knowledge of cheaper sources of inputs and supply bottlenecks as a result of dealing with many agents in the supply chain.

“Networking also provides the opportunity to discover people who may be able to offer assistance to one’s business and who may also benefit from the assistance that one has to offer,” he said.

Dr Fundanga, who graduated from Konstanz University in 1985 in Germany, said in order to remove information irregularities and reduce the risk of moral hazard, people should count on the contacts that one may have in a different country or region.

“I have managed to keep my contacts close to my heart and I have continued to benefit immensely from the interactions and friendship with most Alumni from my days in Germany. Therefore, I challenge all of us gathered here to take advantage of the alumni portal and market not only our curriculum vitaes or businesses but also our country,” said Dr Fundanga.

And Germany Ambassador to Zambia Dr Irene Hinrichsen has said the Alumni Portal website would avail opportunities to re-establish contacts and linkages among the people who studied and lived in Germany.

Ambassador Hinrichsen said the launch was important because the embassy would now be in a position to know people specifically and what they studied in Germany.

“This avails an opportunity to re-establish and strengthen linkages. For instance, we will be able to know which people to invite or link whenever an organisation from Germany visits Zambia,” said Ambassador Hinrichsen.

It is expected that the launch of the alumni portal in Zambia would re-establish and strengthen contacts with Germany and German organisations and companies through a unique platform offering further training and a vibrant job-market.

The alumni portal website is financed by the Germany Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development and will be accessed free by those considered to be alumni, the former participants of advanced training in Germany or those who worked, studied or were trained by Germany organisations for over three months and were familiar with German culture and language.

Labels: CALEB FUNDANGA, NETWORKING

posted by MrK @ 11:40 AM