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Simeka enhances its focus on Microsoft capability

By Simeka Business Group
Johannesburg, 30 Nov 2007

Simeka Business Solutions Group ("Simeka") (JSE: SBG), a Microsoft Gold Certified partner, is giving a renewed focus to building its Microsoft business.

"This focus is being realised through strategic investments and initiatives over the next 24 months," says Peter Stock, Executive for the Microsoft Business at Simeka Consulting, a division of Simeka.

"The South African market is ripe for an empowered Microsoft Partner that takes a holistic consulting approach to understanding business requirements and the Microsoft technology, translating and articulating this into justified investments and realising benefits that could help clients grow and reach their economic goals," says Stephen Green, Chief Technology Officer for Microsoft South Africa.

Current and new growth areas for Simeka include Portals, search and collaboration, custom .NET development, enterprise project management (EPM), customer relationship management (CRM), enterprise resource planning (ERP) and Microsoft training.

"With R&D investments close to $15 billion entering the world market currently, Microsoft solutions in the mentioned areas have reached mainstream adoption from enterprise clients and respect from analysts, both locally and internationally," adds Stock.

Simeka offers clients a holistic approach to creating a connected business and ultimately a people ready environment, by leveraging the five solution pillars of the Simeka Consulting business: management consulting, implementation services, outsourcing, project resourcing and training.

With its unrivalled BEE and enterprise delivery credentials, and being listed on the AltX in South Africa, Simeka will continue to leverage its industry experience in telecommunications, utilities and financial services.

"As mentioned during the announcement of our annual results we will expand our foothold in public sector," says Bradley Hopkinson, Group Deputy CEO. "We have very good relationships within Microsoft both in South Africa and across the EMEA region and we want to leverage these relationships to ensure we exceed the growth expectations we have set ourselves with regard to Microsoft."

"Microsoft is looking for partners that have the necessary skills and growth potential to service customers across the MEA region. We believe Simeka Business Solutions Group has the right business plans in place to be one of such primary regional partners," says Jumana Helal, Sales & Marketing Executive - Microsoft Dynamics South Africa.

Asked about growth for the next 24 months, Stock expects that the Microsoft business's growth will be "substantial, as we look to build a significant business that will be recognised as one of the key players on the African continent".

He also indicated that the accelerated growth will come through a combination of organic strengthening and realignment, and key niche acquisitions. This is keeping in touch with the heritage of Simeka Business Solution Group, and how it grew to become one of the recognised and respected ICT providers in South Africa.

Current Microsoft competencies that Simeka holds include: Networking Infrastructure Solutions, Advanced Infrastructure Solutions and Information Worker Solutions.

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Editorial contacts

Vanessa Ingram
Keyter Rech Investor Solutions
(011) 447 8656
Bradley Hopkinson
Simeka Business Group
(011) 231 1303