NORWAY'S number one paint company Jotun A/S will invest RM260 million on a 10-year expansion plan, including RM160 million on a recently-completed plant in Nilai, Negri Sembilan- Jotun (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd managing director Peder Bohlin said the Malaysian operations would be a hub for export of its business to other parts of Southeast Asia, including Singapore- "We decided to open a plant here after closing the one in Singapore, which will cease operation in six months- "We feel the people in the country is worth investing on as many are well educated and willing to work hard," Bohlin told reporters during a tour of the Nilai plant ahead of its official opening on March 30-Bohlin, who is also Jotun regional director for Southeast Asia, said the company would still keep its Shah Alam plant running- Overall, the two plants will have a total capacity of 60 million litres of paint, ranging from over 40,000 varieties of colours- The Nilai plant, measuring 93,000 square metres, will be operational next month- The RM160 million cost already included RM20 million for the freehold land- "We expect our business to grow by 10 per cent this year because we see demand for paints increasing daily from consumers as well as various property projects," he said- Jotun Malaysia's revenue stood at RM325 million last year, Bohlin added- The Nilai plant will have its own colourant manufacturing facility, the first outside of Norway- It is also poised to be the group's worldwide hub for unique anti-fouling paints- "With the Nilai plant focusing on the marine (coated paints) market in Singapore, the Shah Alam facility will focus on producing the water-borne decorative paints to serve the Malaysian and Singapore markets," he said- The company has over 600 dealers to date- Jotun, which is named after Norway's oldest mountain, is not planning a listing in the local bourse anytime soon as the family-owned business can manage on its own for now- Jotun Malaysia was established 26 years ago- Its parent is one of the world's leading paint manufacturers with a history of more than 80 years and presence in more than 80 countries- Some of Jotun's landmark international projects are the Eiffel Tower in Paris, France, and the Canton Tower in Guangzhou, China- ...

More