INTERNATIONAL RECOGNITION, PROOF OF AGRA'S GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY
Published: 01 Jul 2017

The London Stock Exchange Group (LESG) has listed Agra Namibia as one of Africa’s most inspiring and fastest-growing companies. This was published in the LSEG report, titled “Companies to Inspire Africa’’, which identifies the most dynamic companies on the continent. 

The report which was released in the United Kingdom on 31 March 2017, identifies 343 companies from 42 African countries, as the continent’s most exciting and dynamic small businesses. 
Companies to Inspire Africa, also highlights the important role of entrepreneurship and leadership.
As narrated in the report, the UK secretary of state for International Development, Priti Patel said The London Stock Exchange first-ever Companies to Inspire Africa ‘report is proof of the dynamism and vision of the City of London in supporting Africa’s growing economies.

Further, Patel proposed that, now is the time to for UK businesses to seize the opportunities offered by Africa. This will help Africa industrialise faster, trade more and create millions of jobs, driving the continent forward to a future of prosperity, and helping some of the world’s poorest countries stand on their own two feet, she said.

According to the report, “these companies delivered impressive average compound annual growth rate revenue of 16 percent over a three-year period (from 2013 to 2015)”. The highest concentration of these successful companies is from West Africa, with 26% and Southern Africa with 22%. South Africa, Kenya and Nigeria are the countries with the most companies mentioned in the report, with a total of 50 firms.

“The LSEG has always played a central role in bringing together ambitious, growing companies from around the world, with global minded investors. Key to that role is continual effort to raise awareness in emerging markets the unrivalled investor base that exist in London, seeking exposure to new geographies and opportunities. Similarly, they work to educate and introduce investors to the opportunities that these companies and countries offer as re-counted in The LSEG report”
LSEG Chief Executive Officer, Xavier Rolet, said they are delighted to release the first edition of the report, which follows their previous search, which focused on United Kingdom and European SME’s.
For the first time ever, we have identified Africa’s most inspirational and dynamic private companies. This initiative demonstrates the huge role that most small and medium-sized enterprises are playing as the driving force behind African economies, by developing skills, creating high quality jobs and delivering growth, Rolet said in the report.

The report included contributions from UK secretary of state for International Development ,Priti Patel, European Commission Vice-President; Jyrki Katainen, Maltese Finance Minister; Edward Scicluna , and former UK high Commissioner; Lord Paul Boateng.

On receiving this positive feedback Arnold Klein, CEO Agra, was delighted. “This international recognition highlights the fact that Agra is a respected and important role player in the Namibian economy and is proof of Agra’s continued growth and sustainability”, he said. 
He is confident that  Agra stakeholders can share in his enthusiasm, looking forward to a prosperous future.

The LESG report was produced in partnership with African Development Bank groups, CDC Group and PWC, who contributed their expertise. In total 16 Namibian companies were listed in the London Stock Exchange Group report.

For more information vist their wesite at
https://www.lseg.com/resources/companies-inspire-africa