Imperial launched its milestone 'Gateway to Africa' campaign in July 2021. It is Imperial's strategic intent to become a 'One Imperial' business and serve as the 'Gateway to Africa' to its clients, principals and customers. The strategic decisions and actions the Group continues to take are aligned with this ambition, with significant strategic progress recorded to date in line with this journey.
Everyone who works for Imperial is united by one, clearly defined common purpose - connecting Africa and the world and improving people's lives with access to quality products and services. This campaign showcases that - as a business and as individuals - Imperial makes a meaningful difference in people's lives through providing integrated market access and logistics solutions in five key industries: healthcare, consumer, chemicals, automotive, industrial and commodities.
Imperial's 'Gateway to Africa' campaign demonstrates Imperial's unique value proposition of taking its clients and principals' products to some of the fastest growing and most challenging markets in the world, positioning the company as a partner of choice in Africa for its clients, principals, customers and other key stakeholders. This campaign will also demonstrate that Imperial plays a key role in the development of Africa by enabling access to quality products and services for millions of people in the Group's countries of operation.
Ranked among the top 30 global logistics providers and listed on the JSE in South Africa, Imperial seeks out and leverages new technology to deliver innovative, end-to-end solutions through its significant African footprint and international expertise, and with the support of its 25 000 people. Digital and IT is a key driver in ensuring that Imperial's businesses not only remain relevant but also enhances the Group's competitive positioning on the continent.
Aligned with its purpose-driven approach. Imperial places a strong focus on people and the planet, in addition to profit. With 'people as Imperial's greatest asset', significant time and resources are also being invested in advancing Imperial's people and culture practices, including diversity, talent and skills development. In addition, the Group recently compiled and approved its first, comprehensive Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) strategy and has been recognised by external ratings agencies for the quality of its comprehensive ESG disclosure.
To demonstrate the value that Imperial has already created in two of its key markets of operation - Nigeria and South Africa - the Group, in partnership with Accenture, undertook Socio-Economic Impact Assessments for these countries earlier in 2021. The outcome of these reports emphasised Imperial's commitment toward creating value for its stakeholders in key markets and shows the direct and indirect value Imperial created over the FY19 and FY20 period of R145.9 billion and R98 billion in Nigeria and South Africa respectively.
Imperial's Market Access business is integral to the 'Gateway to Africa' and 'One Imperial' strategy. The Group's market access solutions see Imperial taking ownership of inventory and responsibility for the full order-to-cash function by building complex route-to-market solutions that provide principals with access to patients and consumers through comprehensive channel strategies that integrate sourcing, sales, distribution and marketing.
These solutions also create opportunities to leverage Imperial's freight and contract logistics capabilities. Through its operations in mainly East, West and Southern Africa, Imperial is able to provide market access and logistics services in more than 20 countries on the African continent.
The Logistics Africa business at Imperial encompasses logistics activities throughout the African continent, that is, Road Freight, Contract Logistics and Lead Logistics Provider (LLP). Logistics will continue to play an integral role in achieving the Group's 'Gateway to Africa' and 'One Imperial' strategy - leveraging and expanding freight, contract logistics and supply chain support, as well as cross-selling and upselling opportunities with Imperial's Market Access business.
Imperial's Logistics International business encompasses road freight, contract logistics, air and ocean, and LLP activities outside of Africa - most notably, Imperial's contract logistics and freight businesses in Europe and the United Kingdom.