Our emigration: business and life in Africa - ForumDaily
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Our emigration: business and life in Africa

Mikhail Lyapin Photo: Facebook

Russian citizen Mikhail Lyapin moved to Africa 4 a month ago to issue microloans to local residents. He rented an apartment in one of the wealthy districts of the Kenyan capital and is now looking for lawyers in Nairobi, registering a company and hiring employees. The entrepreneur told the publication The Villagewhy he decided to move, that in African business practices he was surprised and whether he was going home.

In Russia

I am 32 of the year and I am in Africa. Although born in the northernmost Russian city - Murmansk. Since 2008, I have been involved in cloud services, and the last two years before my departure I was the Operations Director at a company that automates the valuation of credit borrowers. Roughly speaking, we gave advice: “Bank, issue a loan to this person” or “Bank, this is a bad person, do not give him money, he will not return them,” and the bank paid us for every such verdict.

Two years ago, I met my fellow countryman, who at that time 9 had been issuing loans in Russia for years. Our desires coincided: I no longer wanted to evaluate borrowers for someone, but it was interesting to do this business myself. The one who is closer to the client, always more money. In the fall of 2015, over a glass of beer, we formulated the idea of ​​a future business: issuing online loans in developing countries.

With regard to domestic markets, they rarely say that, but the Russian credit market is very competitive. There are about 4 thousands of non-bank credit organizations in Russia, and about 400 of them issue loans online. In addition, there are many restrictions - on the interest rate, on the demonstration of advertising, on the identification of borrowers, on debt collection methods and on the topic of processing all personal data that weary. In addition, the Central Bank is very lute, limiting the activities of such a business. All this reduces the level of profit. We thought it would be great to return to Russia 15 years ago. So we had the idea to issue loans abroad.

Idea

Microcredit is not for rich people. We usually work with those who are denied banks. And in developing countries, if the bank refused, people often go to ask for money from the bandits. But what is bad to deal with gangsters? Firstly, in case of non-return, you risk getting a bullet in the head, and secondly, the gangster loan rate is very high - about 20 – 30% per day. We give an affordable loan rate - much more loyal than the bandits. And do not kill our customers.

Our plan is to issue regular online microloans - from 20 to 200 dollars under 1,2 – 1,5% per day. The average loan term is two weeks. It may seem that the interest is big, especially to those who like to multiply the loan rate by 365 days, and not by the term of the loan. But it is important to consider the costs and percentage of non-return. In Russia, it reaches 40% - almost every second loan never returns. I have no reason to think that giving loans in Africa will be better.

One of the patterns of poor people is unwillingness to think for a long time to come. And a person who lives the same day is forced to overpay. This is a normal situation for any developing country. We ourselves were such 15 years ago. For example, I bought a coffee machine for 3 thousands of rubles on credit. And in the same way I overpaid a lot. Therefore, we now have the right to expect that if a person takes a small loan for a very short period, then he will overpay.

Photo: Telegram Mikhail Lyapin

Site Selection

We spent a year and a half trying to figure out exactly where we’ll open the case. At first they decided that we would issue online loans in Southeast Asia. We tried Cambodia, but quickly realized that this option is not suitable. With 15 millions of population, there are only 1,5 million Internet users, and the license costs 300 thousands of euros. For comparison: in Kenya, where I am now, about 46 million people live, and 70% has access to the Internet. This is a huge market. C Cambodia did not work, but we realized that we can correctly evaluate borrowers from another civilization.

As a result, our choice was on two continents: my partner, with his wife, child, mother-in-law, and a cat went to Latin America, and I went to Africa. In each of these regions, many countries speak the same language: in Latin America - in Spanish, and in Africa - in English. It is very convenient: you can do call document-center for the entire region and cover all countries with one headquarters.

I am sure that such a business cannot be raised without moving to the country. Only when you are in place, you can understand what people need and how they use the services. On-site easier to interact with local authorities. To expect that the employee will do it for you is nonsense. The motivation of a mercenary is always lower than the motivation of the owner.

Why did I choose Kenya? There are only three business centers in Africa: Lagos is the second city of Nigeria, Nairobi is the capital of Kenya, and Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa. I did not even think about the latter: this is the most developed country in Africa, which means that high entry costs are provided. I wanted to go to Lagos - Mark Zuckerberg recently visited there, there are even offices there Google and Microsoft. But in Kenya, cheaper employees, but for me it is important. Plus Nairobi is a less criminal city, although it is called "Nairobbery"(Pun:" Nairobi "and"robbery"(English" robbery "). - Ed.).

At first, I thought that I would do everything necessary in Africa in a few months, and then I would be replaced by a local manager. But it turned out that it would take a year and a half. Today I live in Kenya for the 4 month. This week we issued 20 first loans.

Move

Before the move, I was renting an apartment in Moscow for 8 years, and I have accumulated quite a lot of things. I sheltered them from a friend, and took a minimal set of clothes with me. Now I put my hand in the closet, pull out any two things and put them on. Let local shirts, jackets and suits be worn, and if you are “mzungu” (you can often hear such an appeal on the streets), then you are welcome in slaps, shorts and Vietnamese, because you have money. I regretted not taking warm clothes with me. In any heat in the room is always cold.

A couple of months before the trip I did the vaccinations. In Kenya, yellow fever vaccinations are not required, but are needed in a number of neighboring countries. And although the death rate from this disease is not very high, in the absence of a vaccination certificate, you can run into a fine or soliciting a bribe. It is necessary to take root for hepatitis, tetanus and dysentery, if not already done. But from the most dangerous disease - malaria - vaccinations do not exist. There are only preventive drugs. Russian migrants think that the best prevention is strong alcohol, but doctors disagree with them.

I spent a lot of time searching for an insurance company. But in the end I did not take out insurance - I decided to be fearless. In fact, I just could not find an insurance company with a good representation in Kenya. If she does not have a sane partner clinic, then you can run into a place with a shaman and a voodoo wizard. By the way, a couple of times I saw crucified pupae on the ground - probably this is their work. It is better to pay in cash and get to the clinic where whites, Indians and Chinese go.

Photo: Telegram Mikhail Lyapin

Life in Africa

I have never been to Africa before the move. Even in Europe at that time he visited only once. When I came here, it felt like I got into a time machine. I remember how in 12 years I walked around the working district of Murmansk - it was important to look around and watch what was happening. Here is the same. I always wear comfortable shoes because I know that I may have to run away from someone. The first month I never left the house after the 19 watch, like the hero of Will Smith from I Am Legend.

There are rich areas for white people, where apartments are more expensive than in Moscow. I live in a simpler area, but this is not a cesspool or slums. It is safe here, everything is fenced with barbed wire fences, several guards with automatic rifles walk around the clock. At the same time I know where you can run into trouble - it is not so far from my house, just two kilometers away. In the slums, the white man alone is better not to appear.

The apartment, which I am now renting, found on the recommendations. He first wrote on VKontakte to several Russians who live in Nairobi. Here they work either as hired managers in large western companies, or in a local UN branch office, or in a Russian embassy. Finally, there are Russians who have a business here - a travel agency, a restaurant, a casino, sports betting or an advertising agency. One of the local guys was very friendly and told him what to do in the first few days after his arrival: where to get a taxi, a sim card and a local mobile wallet (bank cards are not very popular here). He also helped with the search for an apartment.

I pay for apartment format two bedroom (kitchen with living room and two more rooms) about 50 thousand rubles. Unusually, cleaning is included in the rental price. Almost all whites in Africa have a cleaner, and if they live in a private house, then they also have a gardener. In the complex where I live, there is a swimming pool and a fitness room, which is also included in the price. But the Internet needs to be connected separately. It is expensive (about 3 thousand rubles per month) and of poor quality - with constant breaks and poor technical support.

Photo: Telegram Mikhail Lyapin

Practically the only option for me to move is an order. Uber. A trip from one end of the city to the other costs 150 – 200 rubles. In Nairobi, there are also unofficial taxis, whose drivers periodically rob people. Among the locals, matutas - minibuses where the crowd is crowded are popular. There are also motorcycle taxis: you can sit behind the driver’s back, hug him around the waist and drive around traffic jams.

The working day starts here at 8 in the morning, so traffic jams occur in the 7 hours. But I am lucky: I usually do not drive at rush hour, although once I stood in a traffic jam for two hours. Roads leave much to be desired. Before, I also scolded Sobyanin on Facebook, but now it seems to me that Moscow is a city that was created for life.

The average bill in a restaurant is 1 000 – 1 200 rubles. I think this percent on 30 is cheaper than in Moscow. Many Indian establishments and cafes such as "Chocolate Girl" and "Coffee House" - food for C grade, but for the meeting will come down. With local you can sit in the eatery with a simple atmosphere and food for three pennies. Unsanitary conditions reign everywhere: you cannot relax because you have to constantly check what you eat and drink from. Often, food is taken with dirty hands, and food is prepared in the middle of the street.

Meat and poultry in Africa are very expensive: a simple chicken can cost from 700 to 1 200 rubles per kilogram. But in the heat I don’t really want meat, I want more vegetables and fruits. They are delicious and cheap here: more than 150 rubles never go out. The only exception is disgusting tomatoes. I already missed Baku.

Jobs in Africa

It's easy to communicate. Everyone speaks two languages ​​- Swahili and English. Kenyan English is unusual. Here the words are spoken softly, quietly, as if meowing. The first time I did not understand, I had to lean closer to the interlocutor. Now used to.

All you need if you want to do business in Kenya is a registered office, a license for a credit business, a bank account, a work permit. And it is also necessary to explain to the local central bank that your money is transparent and did not come from selling drugs or trading in embryos. It sounds easy, but the procedure itself is very long. In Russia, all terms are known. Immediately the process is very opaque - it can go both 2 weeks and 8 months. And if someone in Kenya says: “Dude, I’ll do it in 2 weeks” - most likely, he is cunning. It is impossible to predict even how long it will be possible to conclude an agreement for the rental of an office.

According to my friends, Kenya is a corrupt country, but I also did not pay a shilling as a bribe. Apparently, the system itself is not corrupt, but you can get into a situation where you were stopped by guys with machine guns in military uniform and they say: “Oh, you are“ mzingu ”. In general, you cannot walk here, but 200 euro - and you are free. ” Almost everywhere there is a portrait of the local president in camouflage. A picture of Putin with a bare-chested and camouflage pants is the reason why he is considered a strong leader. Military and brute force here are very respected.

They ask me if we are afraid of local gangsters. There is a threat that sooner or later they will come to our company. I think, as in Russia, and in any other country in the world. But if people came to squeeze the online business, they just have nothing to steal.

Photo: Telegram Mikhail Lyapin

If the local sees "mzingu", it always hopes to weld on it. The tour price for the service may be 3 times as high as normal. And this applies to everything. You also need to be prepared for the fact that you throw. Of course, it is better to find a trusted person, but with recommendations tight. There is an anecdote about two hells - Jewish and Russian - where in one they help each other, and in the second they drag one leg down, saying: “What, do you need the most?”. It is not necessary to count on the help of Russian migrants in business, therefore it is better to hold meetings with local ones yourself.

For a start, I needed a lawyer. Of the Kenyan 80 specialists I started communicating with six months ago, the 2 person left to deal with was left. All the others called a very high price - they could ask 150 thousands of dollars, although it costs only a thousand. However, they often do not understand simple things in the legislation. They are constantly late for all personal meetings - from 30 minutes to an hour and a half. In general, a person may not come to a meeting for the first time, be late for 40 minutes a second time, and then make an offer in 100 times more expensive than the average for the market. But here you can meet the head of the Central Bank in a cafe, swimming pool or in a rocking chair. Try in Russia to meet with Elvira Nabiullina Sahipzadovnaya or get in touch with German Oskarovich Gref. This is unreal.

There is no such clan structure as in India, but there is a tribal structure. When a Russian watches the Olympics, and there a Korean with Russian citizenship wins, he rejoices. When a local watches TV and sees that the Kenyan is winning, he sees not a Kenyan, but a representative of one of the 40 tribes. And if it's not his man, he will just turn off the TV. Tribes have historical prerequisites for engaging in some kind of activity: some entrepreneurs, others - the creative intelligentsia, and still others own the land. It is always easier for them to negotiate something with a person from their tribe. Startup Popular in Nairobi Maramoja - analogue Uber, but you can choose a person from your tribe as a passenger. Although such attachments at work with "mzungu" are not reflected.

Plans

We have invested in a business in Africa 1,5 million rubles. The main costs are legal legalization. We pay for office 600 dollars, for communication - 200. This year we plan to hire 30 local workers in call document- the center, which will be responsible for all African countries, where we will start to grow. Average employee salary call document- The center here is on the order of 140 dollars, but we will pay a little higher. I have already scheduled several interviews.

I think that after starting a business, many processes can be managed remotely or you can bring Russian managers here who will work for a share or for wages. Although there are excellent experts on site. One of our best employees is Kenyan. I am going to live between Moscow and Nairobi. I can not say that I want to get out of here as soon as possible, cling my lips to the birch and eat some brawn. It's delicious and warm. I like.

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