09 Nov 2017

Schneider Electric, South African based company has entered into an agreement with SDM Electrical Switchboard of Botswana for skills transfer, both companies offering electrical products and services.

Speaking at the signing of Memorandum of Agreement between the two companies recently, Schneider Energy Business Southern Africa Vice President, Mr Taru Madangombe said skills development is the only way to empower fellow Africans.

Mr Madangombe said Schneider Electric was aimed at making sure that people got knowledge in terms of what was happening in the energy division.

Mr Madangombe said as Schneider Electric they realised that there was a lot of skills and technological deficiencies within the African continent.

Schneider Electric, he said was to empower locals with skills instead of directly importing labour from South Africa to work in Botswana.

Mr Madangombe added that the skills transfer would create jobs for locals as currently Botswana had been challenged by the alarming rate of unemployment.

“The partnership will help ease electrical resource and service provision locally,” he said.

He mentioned that part of the company’s mandate was to make sure there was transfer of skills and knowledge to partners of Schneider Electric.

Mr Madangombe pointed out that Botswana was the first to get the partnership outside South Africa.

Energy access, he said remained a big challenge in Africa. adding that the partnership was to ease energy access.

“We believed foot prints can be extended, especially in Africa in order to empower the continent,” he said.

The SDM Electrical switchboard general manager, Mr David Fischer, said the relationship between SDM Electrical and Schneider was an achievement as it was going to increase their market.

He pointed out that SDM Electrical saw the need to supply the local market with local personalised products.

Provision of network analysis, technical assistance related to distribution and multi control, Mr Fischer said were among services offered by SDM Electrical.

He said the company offered in-house training, school attachment and practical training.

Mr Fischer said SDM Electrical took pride at what they do and are putting their best to make sure that their products standard stand in the market.

He said the mandate was to look for an opportunity to grow Botswana, thus building the economy and achieving the company vision as a local company. ENDS