Jotun, the Norwegian paint maker, has announced a Khs250 million investment in Kenya as it strives to increase its business in the country and East Africa region. The funds are being invested in setting up regional offices in Nairobi, a warehouse as well as recruiting and developing its workforce.
The paint maker is employing staff in sales, marketing, financial control and supply chain. The office, which is already operational, will support its business in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Speaking during the office opening, Jotun Kenya Country Manager, East Africa Region Ashish Vasudev said the company is in the process of strengthening its distribution network by recruiting more dealers to support their business in the region.
“We look at Kenya as a very attractive paint market, where high growth is expected. The fast growing economic development in country and high level of education gives us the confidence that Kenya will continue to grow in the future. We will continue to work and grow our dealership, distributors and customers. A direct presence ensures better customer service, and accurate guidance on application of our products,” he said.
The company’s operation in Kenya started through an agent in 1995 and seeing the immense potential in the region, Jotun is now established as a legal entity and plans to set up a paint factory in Kenya within the next three years and using it to export to other countries in East Africa. In the meantime, the company will continue importing the paints from its factories in Egypt and Dubai and will initially focus on protective coating and decorative paints.
The protective coating and decorative paints give better products and systems for exterior protection of buildings and corrosion protection of infrastructure projects. Jotun also plans to introduce into the local market new products within the year for instance marine and powder coatings. “We will work together with quality dealers to develop the market,” Vasudev said.
And with the stiff competition in the market, Vasudev said the company will be focusing on Jotun strengths of producing unique products and concepts. “We are for instance the world leader in tinting system for paint shops. Furthermore we will develop the unique culture of “Penguins spirit”. We are here to grow the overall market by offering customers world class quality products.”
Jotun is one of the world’s largest and fastest growing paint companies and is now present in over 80 countries around the world. It has been a pioneer in the in-shop tinting system and has over 9000 shops all around the world. It is also associated with painting and protecting world famous landmarks namely the Eiffel tower, Burj Khalifa, Kindgom towers, and Petronas towers among others. In Kenya, Jotun has painted the English Point, Marina in Mombasa, most of Sarova resorts, Vipingo Ridge project and Gems school in Nairobi among other projects.
Leave a comment