International. AkzoNobel has opened a new coatings production facility in Kenya. Located in the capital, Nairobi, the long-term plan is to further expand and use Kenya as a gateway to all of East Africa.
The site, which produces coil coatings primarily focused on the construction sector, also includes storage for the company's marine, protective and powder coatings. Franz Makken, Ambassador of the Kingdom of the Netherlands to Kenya, attended the opening ceremony. Makken emphasized the importance of foreign direct investment in helping to boost local economic development.
"AkzoNobel is making a concerted effort to seize the growing opportunities in Africa and bolster its operations in the region with strategic investments," said Baron Schreuder, the company's director of Performance Coatings for sub-Saharan Africa. "This is an important first step in unlocking Africa and expanding our performance coatings presence in the east of the continent."
Schreuder continued, "Operating in Kenya is an essential part of expanding our presence in the region. The new facility will allow us to be closer to our customers, helping to reduce lead times while strengthening our ability to better serve the market."
Work on the facility began after the company acquired BASF's industrial coatings business. AkzoNobel established a legal entity in Morocco, Kenya and Uganda in 2016 with the express goal of increasing its performance coatings business in the African market.
The company already operates in Africa for its marine and protective coatings, automotive and specialty coatings, industrial and powder coatings and decorative paints. Manufacturing facilities are located in Egypt, South Africa, Zambia, Botswana, the Kingdom of eSwatini (formerly known as Swaziland), Morocco and Tunisia.
