LIONESS WEEKENDER COVER STORY
Nweba launches new SME Initiative in Mozambique creating access to business.
Over the past few years, entrepreneur Eugenia Langa, founder of Nweba, has built a significant reputation for herself and her business, providing world-class services in the highly specialized fields of Procurement and Logistics for the sectors of Construction, Oil & Gas, Mining and Energy. Nweba is the first Mozambican company of its kind, with an experienced team holding CIPP (Certified International Procurement Professional) credentials and more than 10 years’ experience providing solutions to the specific challenges of these sectors in Mozambique.
Nweba works with public and private companies, institutions, NGOs, construction companies, EPCs, procurement departments, always on a procurement level, providing consultancy, market surveys, import and export, material and service supply, logistics and training. The company has built up a hard-earned reputation for the quality of its service delivery, and has a certification programme in progress for ISO 9001, ISO 45001, and ISO 14001. In 2018, Nweba was recognised by the International Star Award for Leadership in Quality, Gold Category, awarded by the Business Initiative Development BID Group as part of their continuous effort towards achieving best practice in procurement services. The company’s track record to date is impressive, with +450 registered suppliers, 10 international import markets, +US$ 7 million in purchases, 700 hours of procurement training, and +1000 trucks transported with materials.
One particular strength has been her company’s ability to assist Mozambican companies to increase their business through Nweba’s local database of suppliers. Her business reputation has been built on a strong values-driven approach to working with clients and delivering on important projects, with a focus on transparency, integrity and responsibility at all times.
Eugenia Langa participating in and pitching her company at the Start-up Night Africa! London event hosted by Lionesses of Africa and UK DIT as part of the UK Africa Investment Summit 2020
Nweba has recently launched an important new service, the SME Initiative, a platform designed to help Mozambican SMEs improve their skills, gain access to technical and financial support in order to be part of the major industrial projects in Mozambique. It's an inclusive program that promotes the development of companies in the local community. The initiative addresses a number of real hurdles facing SMEs in the country. Firstly, high standards of delivery are required in the Oil and Gas market which are not necessary for everyday business; secondly, certification requirements exclude many companies from participation, even just for registration; thirdly, technical capability often is lacking in areas such as accounting and record keeping, legal compliance, contract management, and many other business practices; finally, financial capacities from payment days required to keep afloat through to sourcing suitable finance options to fund development and growth. It is often also the case that the process of registration for such technologically advanced industries is overwhelming for local businesses. The SME Initiative sees this as a critical role to play in enabling SMEs to overcome and showcase their capacity.
As part of the SME Initiative, Nweba will develop a proposed national development plan which is tailor made to clients, enabling them to quickly meet requirements by providing the basis for tangible contribution to the development of local business and personnel. Nweba will also identify local strategic suppliers and service providers, guaranteeing quality of service delivery, competitive pricing, and industry requirements according to client needs and interests. Nweba will promote the SME Programme Initiatives with its clients, whereupon clients will identify their local content priorities, the services to be allocated to the SME Initiative, and the technical support to be provided to draft and implement the SME Programme Initiative plan.
Speaking about the launch of Nweba’s SME Initiative, founder Eugenia Langa, says:
“My aspirations for this new SME Initiative are to see more local companies being able to provide services to the major projects, especially in the Oil & Gas Sector and less dependent on the external markets. My dream is to be part of my country's growth on a level where everything can be sourced locally.”
Anyone wishing to find out more about Nweba’s SME Initiative can contact Eugenia directly via email at eugenia.langa@nweba.co.mz or visit the company website at http://www.nweba.co.mz
