Hello my favourite readers, Kokonsa is back on board after a long Christmas
holiday. I believe all my readers had a good time with their friends and
families during the beautiful white Christmas. To those who didn’t have any
company, Kokonsa would like to assure that, “there is more hope for a living
dog than a dead lion” and next year, I am going to keep all of you under my
wings and have a wonderful holiday with you. So just wipe your tears and be
ready for what I have for you today!
My good readers, I was extremely happy and jumped over the moon when on
Friday, 15th of January, I had the chance of being a participant of the
great EXIMIN family at Vaasa. I was really surprised to see the atmosphere
of unity and the sense of purpose that surrounded the place among the number
of dignitaries, company representatives, lecturers and both Finnish and
African students who attended the seminar. Actually, Kokonsa and his two
friends were there to represent Savonia UAS to prove our logistical
competence through the best training we have received from our great school
Savonia Ammattikorkeakoulu.
EXIMIN, according to the Program manager Dr.Adebayo Agbejule, a Finnish
financial training expert and a Principal lecturer at VAMK UAS said, “EXIMIN
aims at promoting Finnish technology, products and services to the African
markets.”
This means that, it’s time for African students in Finland to start thinking
of creating jobs instead of looking for jobs impossible to find. This is
based on the fact that, the kind of training Polytechnics students in
Finland receives, enable them to create jobs and that is the aim of EXIMIN.
Thus “to create a network of African students with Finnish companies”
(EXIMIN Seminar, 2010)
To me Finnish companies have the best technology to make their product
different in the global market since QUALITY has always been their priority.
As honest country, Finnish companies should never be afraid of competition.
Africans like to opt for the best and Finnish companies luckily have the
best and have every possibility of succeeding in the African market. What is
left for them is to work strategically and involve the African students here
in Finland who have experience both cultures in their operations. VACON
through EXIMIN had taken bold step in awarding a research contract to an
African student, Eric Gamor from VAMK UAS to conduct a marketing research
for the company.
Why Eric and not you or Kokonsa? Are we prepared to take these challenges and
be ambassadors for these companies and lead them to African market? Money
and good name awaits us if we would have confidence in ourselves and put our
studies in practice! And build the kind of trust these partners need.
Honestly, I was really proud of Eric, because good name is better than
riches.
”Despite the development challenges, Africa is moving and African will take
it's share as an important trade partner of Finland”,said Dr.Antti Loiks,
Senior Advisior for Africa and Middle East (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), in
his presentation at the EXIMIN Program.
So what are we doing as students of UAS to make this EXIMIN network as strong
as possible? And on the other hand, what are the Finnish Small Business
enterprises who were late to operate in Russia and China doing at the
moment? Are they ready to involve these students?
Finnish entrepreneurs shouldn’t forget that they don’t need big projects and
latest technology in Africa. “If you lift latest European technology
straight to Africa, you will end up not satisfying the people”,said Mr.Udd
Sture of UPC Ltd
It is obvious, that Finnish companies don't need huge amounts to invest in
Africa. They can start with a micro project and as the business grows,
progress with innovation.
On that note Kokonsa will say big thank you to Juha Hakkinen, Director of
Ostrobothia Chamber of Commerce and Adebayo Agbejule, for his great concern
of Finnish UAS and its Students.
Shalom!
