3M announces telecommunications deal with Malesela
14 August 2002
News
3M Telecommunications, a division of 3M South Africa, has announced a deal with Pretoria-based black-owned Malesela Group. The deal effectively gives Malesela the sole and exclusive rights to all 3M Telecommunications’ products within South Africa.
The deal is expected to generate a turnover value of R50-million and will assist in growing market share in the medium to long term.
3M is widely recognised as a world leader in product innovations for the communications industry. The company has been involved in the telecommunications industry in South Africa since 1958, as a leading supplier of connecting, splicing, insulating and protective products. The group's recent strategic acquisition of the European-based Quante Pouyet group of companies broadened its solutions capability.
"3M's decision to invest in and empower local businesses is a strategy the company firmly believes in," says Ian Brennan, 3M general manager: Telecom Market Centre. "The local and international transactions have broadened the company's capabilities. This black economic empowerment deal complements what 3M offers - a broader range of products, and extends beyond 3M satisfying its BEE requirements: it is a strategic business investment in the telecommunications industry within South Africa, on a long-term basis."
The Malesela Group is a successful black empowerment organisation and is a significant player in the SA telecoms industry. 3M's decision to appoint Malesela was two-fold: both companies share the same vision to be a network connectivity solutions provider and they enjoy complementary products in the manufacture of fibre-optic cable. Under the chairmanship of Dr Anna Mokgokong, Malesela operates in four main divisions: healthcare, power and energy, logistics, and telecommunications.
Malesela manufactures fibre-optic cables through its 51% control of cable-manufacturing company, M-TEC. The company was recently awarded 60% of the national Telkom tender and has the largest slice of Telkom's national fibre-optic cable contract over the next three years.
For more information: Mala Suriah, 3M Telecommunications/3M SA, 083 604 2508, [email protected]
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