Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim (Director of Kick Advisory Services)

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Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim (Director of Kick
Advisory Services)

• "A turnaround exercise gives the company a chance
  of survival"

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• Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim "A turnaround
  exercise gives the company a chance of survival"
• Immunization campaigns around the world play a
  huge role in restoring confidence in the global
  economy, observes the Director and Founding
  Partner of Kick Advisory Services. For Afsar
  Ebrahim, given its small size which limits its
  growth, the Mauritian economy is in dire need of
  foreign capital and investment. Likewise, we need
  to expand our market by refocusing on Africa. He
  also insists on the need to strengthen the
  partnership between the public and private
  sectors.
• After contracting 15.2 in 2020, the Mauritian
  economy will begin a slow recovery. The latest
  estimates from MCB Focus show growth of 6.3 this
  year. Do you fall into the category of optimists
  or pessimists?

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What shapes should the stimulus curve take U, L
or saw-shaped?

• It is difficult to give a definitive answer
  because there are so many things and variables
  that need to be considered at the same time. I
  call with all my vow for hockey stick curve
  growth over the next five years, but right now
  our small economy seems to be blocking
  growth. For real growth, we need capital, foreign
  investment and foreign investors to settle in
  Mauritius. We should also expand our market by
  refocusing on Africa and see how to get the most
  out of a new strategy. Covid-19 caused all
  savings to hit the reset button. There are many
  advantages that we must take full advantage
  of. One of them is the fact that the private and
  public sectors have traditionally worked together
  to move the country forward. We must continue to
  build on it. As we move forward towards our
  future, we cannot do things like in the past. I
  believe that a clear vision with a well executed
  strategy should get the economy back on track.

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After ten extremely tense months, have you
noticed a return of confidence within the
business community?

• There were indeed problems, but we must realize
  that the general global context is
  unprecedented. As I said, since our independence
  we have seen the country overcome incredible
  challenges when the public and private sectors
  worked in tandem. This time around, I believe it
  is again the key factor in Mauritius' success. It
  is a competitive advantage that we must not allow
  to erode. Since Independence, we have had so many
  new entrepreneurs, so many new businesses, so
  many high value-added jobs created and today we
  have a growing middle class. In addition, we can
  rely on a pool of entrepreneurs, business
  leaders, professionals who work hard they are
  fully committed Mauritians. Covid-19 has had a
  negative impact on everyone, but we need to
  refocus, realign our common interest and put our
  efforts at the service of a common goal. All we
  need is A few good men, like in the Tom Cruise
  movie from the early 1990s (I mean men and women).

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At Kick Advisory Services, what methodology do
you use to help struggling businesses get back on
track?

• We bring an entrepreneurial approach to our
  solution which in itself is very practical. Our
  methodology begins with ensuring that, above all,
  we receive relevant, timely and reliable data. We
  test the assumptions of any forecast. We identify
  potential partners and prepare a business case to
  negotiate with banks for restructuring. We also
  provide strategic advice when needed. Business
  valuation is an essential part of our advice.

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How are your SWOT analyzes carried out in this
very special period?

• The SWOT is not the solution but only a business
  assessment tool. The key these days is to apply
  an entrepreneurial and innovative spirit to find
  ways to address weaknesses in restructuring, and
  to do the same to capitalize on strengths. These
  are short-term, quick-impact measures, while
  containing immediate threats. If the business
  survives, we'll look at the opportunities.

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Thank You
Afsar Azize Abdulla Ebrahim
Visit http//afsarebrahim.com/