BackAptech plans foray into South Africa, Kenya in 6-9 months
Aptech plans foray into South Africa, Kenya in 6-9 months
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Mumbai: Software education services provider Aptech Ltd plans to enter South Africa and Kenya in six-nine months riding a surge in global demand for its services, especially cheaper English-medium courses for students and professionals.
“In this year, we will first foray into South Africa and Kenya, which should happen in the next six to nine months, and after that we will expand into the French-speaking nations of Africa," Ninad Karpe, managing director, told Reuters in an interview on Wednesday.
In March, the company had said it plans to expand into Africa, Russia and Eastern Europe.
The company’s expansion will be via franchisees, Karpe said. It also sees its international operations growing 30% over three years though it fell 6% in the first nine months of FY11.
Karpe also hopes to increase the company’s revenue share from the international business to 50% from 30% of total retail revenues in three years.
The international business falls under the retail segment which contributes 80% to the company’s total turnover.
In the current fiscal year, Aptech plans to open 150 centres as against 98 in FY11 and hopes to train 150,000 students globally.
At present, the company has operations in 40 countries and has earmarked a capital expenditure of Rs110-120 million for FY12.
The company, which plans to bid for skill development orders from the federal government, hopes to drive revenues of its training solutions business in FY12, Karpe said.
Aptech sees its training solutions business, which imparts vocational skills, to rise to 18-20% in FY12 from 5.5% currently.
Earlier this week, rival firm Everonn Education said it has signed a joint venture agreement with India’s National Skill Development Corp (NSDC) and plans to impart vocational training to students across the country over 12 years.
In India only about 5% of students have access to any vocational training compared with about 60% in developed countries.
Shares of the company ended up 2.08% at Rs110.65 in a firm Mumbai market.
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