Commodity Overseas Business Lead(Africa/ Egypt)

The Role

Key Responsibilities

• Lead commodity trading operations (Crude Oil, LPG, Glycerin, and agricultural products) across Africa and South America, meeting annual transaction targets while managing counterparty and geopolitical risks
• Develop energy and mineral resource projects, including LPG procurement in Nigeria/Mozambique/Ethiopia/Congo, titanium and lithium mining concessions, and glycerin sourcing in South America
• Build end-to-end supply chain networks in target regions, coordinating logistics, customs, and trade compliance for bulk commodity movements

• Scale up the existing USD 100M Egypt Chlor-Alkali facility in Ain Sokhna (Red Sea), exploring "Green Electricity + Chemical Industry" models, including direct power transmission partnerships (e.g., UAE-to-Egypt grid integration)
• Identify cross-sector opportunities from agriculture (palm oil plantations, agri-processing) to industrial manufacturing, replicating successful models in new geographies
• Establish presence in Indonesia and Vietnam to capture regional glycerin procurement markets

• Cultivate Ministerial-level/Cabinet-level relationships in target African and South American markets (Energy Ministries, Mining Ministries, Investment Boards), navigating regulatory frameworks and policy incentives
• Partner with Chinese SOEs and local conglomerates to secure mining concessions, infrastructure BOT projects, and energy supply agreements
• Manage political risk and stakeholder mapping in high-volatility markets

• Build and mentor in-country teams as business matures (current Egypt operation: 20 staff, primarily China-assigned; plan to transition toward localized hiring)
• Develop hiring strategies and operational playbooks for high-risk regions, working closely with Singapore HQ (Trading, Finance, Admin)

Requirements

• 8+ years in international commodity trading (Energy, Minerals, or Agri-commodities) OR business development in energy/chemical infrastructure projects
• Mandatory: Proven track record in at least two of the three regions: Africa (Francophone/Lusophone preferred), South America, and Egypt/Middle East
• Experience working in underdeveloped markets with limited infrastructure, including direct negotiation with government officials, parastatals, and local resource owners

• Government Access: Established relationships with Ministerial-level officials in African or South American resource ministries; ability to navigate opaque regulatory environments and secure project approvals
• Trading Acumen: Deep understanding of Crude Oil, LPG, and/or mining value chains, including price hedging, logistics financing, and counterparty risk management
• Cultural Agility: Strong understanding of Chinese SOE operating culture while possessing the cultural fluency to operate effectively in diverse emerging markets

• Mandatory: Business-proficient Mandarin Chinese and English (both working languages) as you need to engage with Chinese-speaking stakeholders
• Preferred: Arabic, French, or Portuguese capabilities for regional coverage
• Bachelor's degree or higher; background in International Business, Engineering, or Political Economy preferred

• Willingness to travel extensively (40-60%) to field locations across Africa and South America
• Entrepreneurial mindset with tolerance for ambiguity-this is a "build-from-scratch" role with evolving strategic priorities based on market opportunities
• Experience transitioning from agricultural projects (palm oil, commodity agriculture) to industrial/chemical projects highly valued