Said Salim Bakhresa | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1949 (age 75–76) |
| Occupation(s) | Businessman,Philanthropist |
| Known for | Operating numerous business ventures underBakhresa Group |
| Spouse | Fathiya Bakhresa |
| Children |
|
Said Salim Awadh Bakhresa (born 1949 inZanzibar), is a Tanzanian business tycoon.
He is the founder and the chairperson of theBakhresa Group of companies. He is a well-known industrialist in the mainland of Tanzania and the island of Zanzibar. With a humble beginning as a small restaurateur in the seventies, he created the business empire within a span of three decades. At the age of 14, he dropped out of school to become a potato mix salesperson and would later go on to become a successful African businessman.[1]Bakhresa Group; is a conglomerate of various companies and is the largest milling company in East Africa with operations in Tanzania and five other countries.[2]
After getting into the potato mix industry, Bakhresa got involved as arestaurant operator in the 1970s and then went intograin milling.[1][3] Even today, the main products from Bakhresa's company comes from theKipawa Flour Mill where various rice and grain products are being processed.[4] The neighboring country ofRwanda is dependent on Bakhresa's mill to provide 120,000 tons of wheat flour per year; which is expected to ease pressure offood prices in a country which approximately 52% of households don't have an adequate level of food security.[5] This is a major concern according to theWorld Bank'sCountry Assistance Strategy.[5] Bakhresa's projects in Rwanda are also expected to create jobs and help to increase national corporate tax revenues.[5]
His group employs more than 2000 people and is Tanzania's largestconglomerate.[1] Other specialties produced through Bakhresa's conglomerate includes:confectioneries,frozen foods,various kinds of drinks, andpackaging.[1] TheAzam brand is Bakhresa's most successfulchocolate andice cream manufacturer in Tanzania.[1] While the company is managed by his sons, Bakhresa owns the company itself.[1] Its daily capacity for manufacturing is 2100 metric tons and made sales of $800 million in 2011.[1] Bakhresa'sAzam Marine division is providing international tourists with quick ferry services as more people discover Tanzania.[6] In addition to Zanzibar, riders can also experienceLake Victoria andMount Kilimanjaro.[6]
Bakhresa is helping to reduce the effects ofmalaria on his employees by preventing the spread of the disease at his workplaces.[7] As a result, Bakhresa's firm only spends about US$3400 a month for malaria medication as opposed to US$10000 per month to heal its sick workforce.[7] They stopped usingFansidar; a monotherapy drug in favor of more effectiveartemisinin-based therapies that utilizespolytherapy.[7] Other companies are united with the Bakhresa Group to stop malaria in their region.[7] Residents of Tanzania who work outside of Bakhresa's company have also benefitted from Bakhresa's crusade against malaria in Africa.[8]