Kenya’s leading mobile network operator, Safaricom, is now branded as the company of the year by the 2013 Africa Investor (Ai) Index Series Awards, which has recognised the company’s role in extending Africa’s market through the vibrancy of its listed shares at the Ai.
Safaricom scooped the prize as a result of the value of its shares as measured by market capitalization and liquidity, which is measured by the average daily value traded in US dollars.
Bob Collymore, Safaricom’s CEO also got himself a new title, ‘the Ai 140 CEO of the year’. He said: “It is an honour and privilege to receive these awards. The recognition underscores the adherence to our vision, the hard work by our employees, able management and astute corporate governance at the board level, which has propelled Safaricom’s shares to the current level”.
According to the Nairobi Stocks Exchange (NSE), Safaricom is currently trading at an all-time high share price of Ksh. 8.40 and is the most valuable company with a market capitalization of Ksh328 billion.
Safaricom is a force to recon with not only in Kenya but in East and Central Africa. The company also has a record of winning awards including: Champions of governance awards (2012) organized by the institute of public secretaries and top honours at the 3rd CIO Awards held in Kigali, Rwanda for its maternal and child health care mobile-based platform.
The Africa investor (Ai) Index Series Awards, are the only international, pan-African awards that recognise and reward Africa’s institutional investors, stock exchanges, best-performing listed companies, stockbrokers and capital market regulators.
“Every year, our Ai Capital Market Awards, linked to our Ai Index Series launched in 2005, continue to stimulate capital market transactions and bring new and exciting participants from all over the world to invest in Africa’s growth. We are honoured to be in a position to reward and recognise Africa’s capital market investment success stories and commend not only the winners, but all those that participate in the process, which goes a long way to raising Africa’s international investment profile,” said Hubert Danso, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Africa investor.
It is true Safaricom has grown tremendously over the years and has managed to expand its territories even where it is not expected, and has even gotten the banks and financial institutions on their toes. It is a good thing that Africa is being noticed internationally that why it is not surprising that many foreign companies have their eyes on Africa.
