Global logistics firm DP World has put its bat behind Betway SA20 – South Africa’s premier cricket tournament – as the official Global Logistics Partner. This extends a long list of its sports partnership portfolio which includes the McLaren Formula One team, the DP World Tour, the Ryder Cup, SAIL GP and the International Cricket Council. CNBC Africa is joined by Mohammed Akoojee, CEO & MD, DP World Sub-Saharan Africa.
Global Logistics firm DP World has put its bat behind Betway SA20 – South Africa’s premier cricket tournament – as the official Global Logistics Partner. This extends a long list of its sports partnership portfolio which includes the McLaren Formula One team, the DP World Tour, the Ryder Cup, SAIL GP and the International Cricket Council. I'm now joined by Mohammed Akoojee, CEO & MD, DP World Sub-Saharan Africa. Mohammed, good to catch up with you again and of course I started the morning early with you when you did make this announcement to the broader public. Perhaps as a way of introduction can you just help us understand some of the challenges that are presently involved from a logistics standpoint in putting tournaments of this size and scale together and how DP World through its partnership will be leveraging on some of its supply chain management expertise to alleviate some of those challenges. Yes, good afternoon Fifi and thank you for the opportunity. Yeah, as you can imagine, with a sport tournament like the cricket that moves around from one city to the next, there's a lot of movement of equipment, movement of people, as well as movement of goods and services that need to follow a tournament. And as DP World in South Africa, we have a very strong infrastructure base. We've got 4,000 trucks, we've got probably a million square meters of warehousing capacity, and we also have got allied services like air and ocean freight to deal with some of the equipment that needs to be imported for some of these sports events. So we certainly from a regional point of view have got the scale and capability to do that, but also internationally, you know, through our partnerships with McLaren and the Gulf, which are global events, you need a global network to be able to move Formula 1 around the world, as well as golf tournaments that happen across Europe and parts of Asia as well. And we as DP World have got about 10% of global trade that goes through our network, and we have capability in ports, logistics, marine, we've got air freight capacity. So certainly as a global organization, you have to call on all your capabilities and skill sets to be able to provide an effective smart solution for your clients. Of course, I mean, I imagine that it is quite flattering, in a sense, to see your logo across these major sporting tournaments here in South Africa, as well as internationally. But this is not necessarily being done to flatter egos, as it were, there must be a impact in terms of bottom line. So maybe let's just talk about that, Mohamed, in terms of your sporting partnerships, perhaps the existing ones that are currently on the table prior to you announcing the deal with Bitway today. But how impactful or significant are they for the bottom line? Yeah, you know, there's certain parts of it that are measurable, and there's certain parts that you know, you can't, you can't measure. I guess for us, it's about connectivity, right? Our vision and purpose as an organization is to enable global trade. And in order to do that, you need platforms for growth, platforms to connect with your clients, platforms to connect with communities, platforms to connect with cargo owners to showcase your end to end capabilities, so that, you know, you are, you have a value proposition that they will want to use. So for us, the branding element certainly does have a value. You know, we have been in a transformation as an organization for the last few years in terms of transforming from a portfolio to a platform. And we have been a sports operator to an integrated supply chain business. And refreshing the brand, refreshing our value proposition, as part of that is also valuable. And certainly from a bottom line perspective, as I say, we do use these platforms for growth initiatives. Very importantly, we also use it for community initiatives. You know, sport plays a big role in community development. And our relevance as an organization in many of the countries we operate in require us to contribute. And through sport, you can make a valuable contribution to, you know, sports at a grassroots level. So I think, you know, business is not only about measuring the bottom line. It's about, you know, the total value that a business brings, you know, to an economy. And then we certainly as DP will see it that way. You know, shared value and purpose is a big part of our value proposition. All right. So I know that you are talking or referring to one of your initiatives, your Beyond Boundaries initiatives, where you do focus on youth development, community engagement through cricket and the like. So perhaps talk specifically about this partnership with Betway and how, in what way, as it were, it will enable you to advance some of those initiatives that are already on the ground? Yes, absolutely. And that's a big part of, you know, why this partnership is a win-win. You reference our Beyond Boundaries, you know, initiative where we provide equipment and, you know, gear right at the grassroots level, you know, for young upcoming kids that want to play cricket but don't have the means to do that. And that's a great way of, you know, building the sport through that. Betway have similar initiatives around their schools, crickets initiatives. And, you know, we will combine forces there to, you know, make one plus one equals three. So the partnership certainly touches many areas of collaboration in terms of, as I said, showcasing our capability as a global logistics business, creating a platform for us to be able to connect with other companies and partners and clients, as well as you've highlighted now in terms of collaborating with our Beyond Boundaries and Betway's SA20 initiatives from a community level. So we're really excited about the partnership and, yeah, we certainly see it as a win-win. All right. So Mohamed, thanks so much for speaking to us on a different kind of a business conversation that we don't ordinarily have, but just understanding your activities in the sporting fraternity when it does come to a logistics solutions provider. Mohamed Akuji, the CEO and MD at DP World Sub-Saharan Africa there.
Theme: The strategic importance of sports partnerships for DP World's logistics business and community engagement initiatives
Global logistics firm DP World has expanded its sports partnership portfolio by becoming the official Global Logistics Partner for Betway SA20, South Africa's premier cricket tournament. This move further strengthens DP World's presence in the sports industry, adding to its existing partnerships with the McLaren Formula One team, the DP World Tour, the Ryder Cup, SAIL GP, and the International Cricket Council. Mohammed Akoojee, CEO & MD of DP World Sub-Saharan Africa, recently discussed the company's involvement in sports logistics during an interview with CNBC Africa. Akoojee highlighted the significant role of logistics in organizing large-scale sports events like cricket tournaments. He emphasized DP World's expertise in supply chain management and its ability to move equipment, people, and goods efficiently across different cities. With a robust infrastructure base, including 4,000 trucks and extensive warehousing capacity, DP World is well-equipped to handle the complex logistics requirements of sporting events. Akoojee also mentioned the company's global network and partnerships, such as McLaren and the Gulf, which provide additional support for international sporting competitions like Formula One and golf tournaments. Leveraging its extensive capabilities in ports, logistics, marine, and air freight, DP World aims to deliver smart and effective solutions to its clients in the sports industry. Beyond the operational aspects, Akoojee discussed the strategic importance of sporting partnerships for DP World's bottom line. He highlighted the role of branding and connectivity in driving growth and engaging with clients and communities. Akoojee emphasized the holistic value that sports sponsorships bring to the organization, not just in terms of financial returns but also in fostering community development and promoting shared values. DP World's focus on creating shared value and purpose aligns with its commitment to making a positive impact on the economies and communities where it operates. The partnership with Betway SA20 presents a unique opportunity for DP World to further its community initiatives, particularly in youth development and cricket. Through collaborations with Betway's schools' cricket programs and its own Beyond Boundaries initiative, DP World aims to support grassroots cricket and provide opportunities for aspiring young players. By combining resources and expertise, the partnership with Betway is set to enhance community engagement and promote the growth of cricket at the grassroots level. Akoojee expressed excitement about the collaboration and the potential for synergy between DP World's global logistics capabilities and Betway's community-focused initiatives. The partnership is seen as a win-win situation that not only strengthens DP World's presence in the sports industry but also underscores its commitment to driving positive change through sports. With a focus on leveraging logistics expertise for sports development, DP World continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of sports logistics and community engagement.
"Our vision and purpose as an organization is to enable global trade. And in order to do that, you need platforms for growth, platforms to connect with your clients, platforms to connect with communities, platforms to connect with cargo owners to showcase your end to end capabilities, so that, you know, you have a value proposition that they will want to use."
['DP World', 'Betway SA20', 'logistics', 'sports partnership', 'cricket tournament', 'supply chain management', 'community engagement', 'youth development', 'global trade']