Japanese Kansai Plascon enters Nigerian paints market

As part of its strategic expansion into Africa as the continent’s foremost coatings company, Kansai Plascon, a Japanese multinational firm has opened its Nigeria office bringing its innovative and excellent range of premium paints closer to Nigeria consumers.
To successfully and quickly integrate in to the bourgeoning Nigerian market, the company partnered with a local firm, Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria (PCMN), to expand the over $10 million investment in the company.
Kansai, the Japanese company had in 2012 bought in to Plascon of South Africa which resulted in to the change of name to Kansai Plascon with target to further deliver top quality products to consumers around the world including Africa.
Speaking at the unveiling of the partnership in Lagos recently, the President, Kansai Plascon, Hiroshi Ishino stated that “Kansai Plascon likes to enter into African countries with local partners to ensure that the growth and development within these countries is locally relevant and meaningful. We embrace the culture and unique aspects of each African country we enter, to ensure we develop our business with the utmost respect and consideration for each country and as the Power House of Africa, especially the West African Region, Kansai Plascon investigated the marketplace thoroughly before entering into the Nigeria market.
He said it took three years of investigation, discussions, negotiations and development of understanding in Nigeria, before we found the right partners to join hands with to enter Nigeria.

“In Paints and Coatings Manufacturers Nigeria (PCMN) we have found the ideal partner, who’s strength in manufacture, presence in key strategic locations in Nigeria, knowledge and total commitment to quality and service, match perfectly with the Kansai Plascon business ethos”
He further said that the local partner has the most qualified factory operations in Nigeria and within Africa as a continent, and has the business track record, reputation, management, skilled personnel, Factory, equipment and systems to fit the needs of Kansai Plascon. “We can therefore, manufacture all of our Premium Range products in Nigeria”
Hiroshi Ishino further reinstated the company’s commitment towards investing in local communities and upliftment programmes by donating paints and educational materials to pupils of Shogunle and Temidire primary school in Lagos Nigeria through its brand Icon Louis Saha, a foremost Manchester United player.
Also speaking, Sylverius Okoli, director Kansai Plascon Nigeria expressed his delight about the partnership and said this will give the new company an edge in the paints industry as it was ready to offer quality paint products with various specifications.
Also speaking, Ambassador of Japan to Nigeria, Sadanobu Kusaoke pleaded with the government to continue to provide necessary support to Kansai Plascon which has invested in Nigeria despite the current economic difficulties.
Ibikunle Adams, deputy director, Federal Ministry of Industry and Trade and Investment who acknowledged the abundance material and human resources in Nigeria restated the importance of cooperation and support to the new partners as he said this would strengthen the already existing cooperation and collaboration between Japan, South Africa and Nigeria.

 

Daniel Obi