Case Studies

Competitiveness Assessment - View PDF

The Jordan Investment Board wanted to understand its actual and potential competitive advantages in attracting foreign direct investment and to develop a strategy to target potential investors in the sectors and industries in which it was potentially competitive. Koios conducted a comparative assessment of Jordan’s investment environment relative to other countries in the region, and assessed Jordan’s potential competitiveness sector by sector.

Special Economic Zone Assessment and Strategy - Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian General Authority for Investment sought assistance in developing Special Economic Zones in three underdeveloped regions of the country. Koios Associates led a consortium that carried out a detailed competitiveness and benchmarking assessment of the three regions and recommended location, regulatory frameworks, infrastructure investments, investment incentives and administrative structures to maximize the zones' contribution to regional economic development and diversification.

Industrial Zone Demand Assessment - Mali 

 

Koios experts conducted a demand assessment and financial feasibility study for a proposed industrial park adjacent to Bamako Airport to be financed by Milennium Challenge Corporation. Evaluated competitiveness by sector, identified potential investors, developed financial models to assess potential investor performance and evaluate land pricing and service fees, calculated initial demand for land and prepared 10-year demand projections. Evaluated political, economic, commercial and other risks. Recommended land allocation procedures, land pricing, management structure and governance, and administrative procedures.

   

Free Trade Zone Demand Assessment - Rwanda 

 

Koios experts carried out the demand and competitiveness assessment portion of a pre-feasibility study for a proposed free trade zone in Kigali, under contract to Jebel Ali Free Zone Authority.  Evaluated competitiveness by sector, identified potential investors, calculated initial demand for land and prepared 10-year demand projections. Assessed economic impact of park in the context of ongoing economic reforms, regional integration, and infrastructure development in Mali and West Africa.  Evaluated political, economic, commercial and other risks. Designed a marketing/promotion strategy.

 

Administrative Barriers to Investment - Egypt  

 

Koios experts evaluated business start-up and entry procedures as part of an overall assessment of administrative barriers to foreign direct investment. Evaluation included an assessment of recent reforms to the laws governing GAFI, the Egyptian investment promotion agency, and of new strategies being implemented by new GAFI management. Participated in a broad-based survey and focus-group discussions with business leaders in Egypt as part of a wider investment climate assessment.

 

Business Climate Improvement - Sierra Leone 

 

Koios experts evaluated administrative barriers to investment, focusing on business operating procedures, taxation, customs and tax administration and trade barriers. Initiated and implemented capacity development program in Ministry of Trade and Sierra Leone Export Development and Investment Centre, financed by World Bank and DFID.

 

Investment Climate Improvement - Seychelles 

A Koios expert participated as business operations expert on a FIAS/World Bank assignment for the Seychelles Investment Board, focusing on tax, customs, foreign exchange and other administrative barriers to foreign direct investment, as well as on the promotion, facilitation and investment dissemination capacities of the SIB.

Telecommunications Investment - Africa

A private equity fund wanted to evaluate a potential investment in a start-up cellular telephony company operating in two African countries, but with a plan for continent-wide expansion. Koios experts evaluated the African market for cellular communications and conducted financial and operational due diligence on the company’s existing subsidiaries in Uganda in Zambia. With a recent offer to buy the parent company for over $3 billion, an original $8 million investment is now worth over $150 million.

New Framework for Investment Promotion and Enterprise Development - View PDF

The Jordanian Royal Court and Jordanian Government recognized a need to restructure the country's investment and trade promotion and enterprise development institutions to reflect increased global competition for investment and market access. Koios Managing Partner Chip Krakoff led a joint public-private initiative to create new institutions with new mandates capable of increasing Jordan's international competitiveness.

Investment Climate Assessment

Syria embarked on a series of market-oriented economic reforms shortly after Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father as President. A Koios Consultant conducted an assessment of Syria’s financial system, privatization program, trade and customs administration and investment promotion institutions as part of a World Bank review of the investment climate.

Market Entry and Company Acquisition

A leading American manufacturer of industrial process equipment, with a large installed base in India, found its market share shrinking even as the market was expanding. The reason? Indian law gave preferences to domestic manufacturers, and the client’s main competitor, also a U.S. company, had recently invested in a manufacturing facility there. A Koios Consultant conducted a market assessment, identified a potential partner company and helped the client to negotiate a joint manufacturing and marketing venture.

Investment Incentives Policy

Koios Associates conducted an assessment of Cape Town's industrial and economic development strategy and developed an investment incentives policy and strategy to attract investment in key industrial and service sectors.

East Asian Marketing, Investment and Sourcing Strategy

A Koios consultant developed a 10-country Pacific Rim investment, marketing and sourcing strategy for a U.S. industrial valve company; identified Japanese joint venture partner and provided recommendations on financial structure, transfer pricing and joint marketing strategies.

Investment Promotion Agency Restructuring

Koios experts led the restructuring of Jordan’s investment promotion and enterprise development institutions in line with international best practices, developing a complete package of legal and institutional reforms and guiding investment and enterprise development policies, strategies and incentives.

Export Expansion Strategy, Southern Africa -  View PDF

Developing countries tend to focus their export expansion efforts on demanding improved market access in Europe and the United States, and often ignore the fact that a wide range of preferences and special market access arrangements already give them substantially free access to these markets. At the same time, trade barriers in other big developing countries remain high, preventing African countries from penetrating big markets in Asia, the Middle East and Latin America. A Koios trade expert conducted a trade flow analysis to identify product-specific opportunities in these markets and suggested that developing countries might make better use of their resources by negotiating for increased market access.

Fresh Produce Value Chain Development, Ghana

Small farmers in developing countries have a hard time getting their products into domestic markets, much less into export markets. They have limited access to information transport and credit, and are at the mercy of middlemen to provide transport and access to markets. A consulting team with the International Trade Centre, led by Koios Managing Partner Chip Krakoff, provided support to several fruit and vegetable producers’ associations in Ghana, enabling them to become exporters in their own right. Through the associations, producers were able to transport cost-effectively to the port and buy cargo space on airplanes to Europe at competitive prices. The ITC team helped the associations jointly to identify and nominate marketing agents in Europe and to set up a distribution warehouse in France. Within six months of the launch of the program, Ghana’s fresh produce exports through this channel had increased by more than €500,000 per week.

IT/Telecoms Due Diligence

A private equity fund was considering a $1 million acquisition of a U.S. company with its principal operations in Democratic Republic of Congo. The company’s main activity was terminating international telephone calls. But it had also acquired an ISP license and was planning to roll out internet service. Koios assembled a team team of lawyers and telecoms experts to conduct due diligence on the company and its principal owner and, based on intelligence gathered, recommended against the investment.

Egypt Special Economic Zone

Egypt’s new law on Special Economic Zones made it possible for private companies to develop new industrial zones that would operate under a less burdensome tax and customs regime and that would be free of many of the regulatory constraints affecting businesses in the wider economy. Koios experts conducted a strategic assessment for the first zone created under the new law, at Sokhna on the Gulf of Suez, evaluating the zone’s potential competitiveness in comparison to other free zones in the Middle East/North Africa region, and recommending a strategy to encourage development of competitive industrial clusters.

Security Industry, Acquisition and Financing Strategy

A European security advisory firm sought to expand in Africa by acquiring a security operations firm. Koios Associates evaluated the security services and equipment market in Southern Africa, conducted due diligence and financial valuation of the target firm and developed an equity and debt financing strategy.

Oil Company Privatization

A Koios financial and privatization expert led a team conducting due diligence of the Mongolian national oil company ($100 million annual revenues) leading to privatization through international tender. Developed strategies, valuation model and implementation plan for sale to international investors, conducted due diligence and wrote investment memorandum. Also conducted assessment and developed strategy recommendations for disposal of social assets and maintenance of essential social services in single-industry towns in Mongolia in the context of enterprise privatization.

Telecommunications Industry Assessment, South Korea

Koios, in collaboration with Pyramid Research,  conducted an analysis of the South Korean telecommunications equipment industry and recommended strategies for U.S. and European companies to defend their markets against Korean manufacturers.

Oil Industry Evaluation and Partner Search, Yemen

A Koios consultant conducted a partner search and negotiated an exclusive agency agreement in Yemen for a European manufacturer of oil drilling equipment.

IT Marketing Strategy, Saudi Arabia

Koios consultants advised a major U.S. IT company on marketing and sales strategy in Saudi Arabia, focused on shifting from a product-oriented marketing organization to a client-focused approach. Developed new strategy for cultivating and managing relationships with value added resellers.