Q&A: 60 seconds with Ally Angula

Ally Angula is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Leap Holdings Namibia, Namibia and a member of the WEF’s Forum of Young Global Leaders. Here we speak to him about the upcoming World Economic Forum on Africa, taking place in Cape Town on 4th and 5th June.

1) Not many entrepreneurs have attempted to make it big in farming and fashion: what is your driving force?

My driving force is to engage in sectors that create sustainable jobs. In fashion, we are involved in product design, development, production, manufacturing our own branded items that we retail through our own branded outlets. In farming, we employ the same approach and are currently involved in the production of horticultural produce which we sell wholesale to retailers. We are, however, looking to processing our produce as the next natural step. Both industries afford us the opportunity to take an unskilled labour force and, with basic training, convert them to a semi-skilled labour force making a meaningful contribution to the operations within short period.

I am being very specific about what sectors of fashion we are targeting, focusing on a product that has a unique appeal and can be exported; with our horticultural produce, we specifically decided to focus on the two items that as a country we import the most of but where our climate makes it possible to grow, but also limiting our risk by irrigating our crops in semi-arid Namibia, hiring the best skills and driving that we have the good farming practices to have yields that are great and comparable to other commercial farming operations and we are using developed countries yields as our measure.

2) Are you an Afri-optimist or an Afri-pessimist

An Afri-optimist for sure. I believe in this continent and what it has to offer to the world and its people.

3)  What’s next for Ally Angula?

Launching of three brands towards the end of this year; processing of our horticultural produce within the next year; listing of our company to raise capital to fund planned expansion into processing as well as the exporting of our branded apparel into 8 selected cities on the continent. Continuing to drive decisions at National Level that are in the best interest of my country (Namibia) at the various platforms that I am afforded to serve at.

4) What will you be doing in Cape Town for WEF Africa and what would you hope to achieve?

I will be attending sessions focusing on the industrialisation of the Continent, innovation and the future of trade, as well as specific Young Global Leader (YGL) events. I hope to better understand the YGL Community so that I can craft my involvement better with respect to assessing where my skills can be best utilised. Also, to contribute by sharing my views as an entrepreneur involved in the manufacturing sector. I also look forward to meeting people from different countries from across the Continent as I look at expanding our foot print through trade on the Continent.

This WEF Africa Leader series conversation was first published in Business Report in association with WEF. Follow WEF Africa coverage on Twitter #AF15 or #IndyAF15.

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Author: Ally Angula is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Leap Holdings Namibia, Namibia and a member of the WEF’s Forum of Young Global Leaders.

Image: Dusk settles over the Angolan capital, Luanda. REUTERS/Mike Hutchings.