September 1, 2016 -- Japan imports over 90% of its natural resources, such as oil, natural gas and iron-ore, and 60% of its food. Trade with developing countries accounts for approximately 60% of imports and 40% of exports, making these nations indispensable partners for Japan.

Identified and fostered out of these partnerships is the need to develop African skills and the Japan International Co-operation Agency (JICA) is intrinsic to implementing Japan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Official Development Assistance (ODA) programmes, including the master's degree and internship programme of the ABE Initiative.

In response to questions from the JICA's chief representative, Hiroyuki Kinomoto, Komatsu Africa Holdings managing director, Mike Blom, explained his role as managing director and the southern African entity's responsibility as the Komatsu distributor responsible for South Africa, Botswana, Namibia, Mozambique, Malawi, Zimbabwe, Madagascar and Mauritius and one of the entities involved in the intern- ship programme.

“Our primary role is to grow the Komatsu business in our territory through machine sales and then provide full aftermarket support to our customers, explained Blom.

“Working for a Japanese company has been an amazing experience and to have the responsibility to manage a Japanese company in South Africa has been fantastic. Komatsu has a deep-rooted DNA called “The Komatsu Way” that has been passed down through generations of Komatsu [employees] for almost 100 years, and it is a philosophy and a way of us doing business which I fully embrace.”

“Komatsu Africa Holdings has 99.5% local employees; however, our core corporate values are that of Komatsu, and “The Komatsu Way” is the value system we use to drive our people.

“In 1997, when Komatsu acquired the local company and established its own subsidiary, it was headed by a Japanese expat. Gradually the management and control was handed over to me as the first local managing director in 2008, and I have witnessed over the past 20 years Komatsu becoming a truly global company.

“It is critical to have multinational companies operating in other countries, particularly in developing countries as the knowledge and skills that are injected into business over the long term are crucial for growth.

“I look back to 1997 when Komatsu first established its own company in South Africa. We have seen the growth of the company peak almost 11 times over 15 years and seen doubling of the direct employment of people, and contribution to the employment of several more people in associated businesses in southern Africa.

“I believe that as long as multinationals are using their resources to share knowledge, to develop people and businesses in other countries, their presence and contribution is essential.

“We have already had a significant number of our young artisans and other junior managers attend training in Japan and this has been a huge success. Not only are these employees gaining more skills, but for many of them it is their first and possibly only opportunity to visit a foreign, first-world country. The experience of seeing Japan, the culture and the work ethic has [had] a hugely positive impact on these young people.