Kansai Hints at Morocco
Automotive Coatings Plant
The conducive
investment
climate has
attracted leading
global coatings
companies into
Africa with a
focus on mergers,
acquisitions or
development of
manufacturing
plants targeting
specific coating
segments.
by Shem Oirere
Africa Correspondent
Africa’s gross domestic product growth is expected to strengthen to 4. 5 percent in 2015 and 5 percent in 2016 after
subdued expansion in 2013 ( 3. 5 percent) and
2014 ( 3. 9 percent) according to the African
Development Bank.
This growth is driving the expansion of key
economic sectors such as manufacturing and
construction and also improving the purchasing power of consumers as the region ushers in
a new regime of consumerism fueled by increasing disposable incomes and urbanization, key
pillars for the development of a strong paints
and coatings market.
The conducive investment climate has attracted leading global coatings companies into
Africa with a focus on mergers, acquisitions or
development of manufacturing plants targeting
specific coating segments ranging from industrial, protective, automotive to decorative.
For example, Kansai Paint Co., Ltd., the
Japanese chemical company listed in the league
of the world’s top paints and coatings manufacturers has announced plans to construct a new
automotive paint plant in Morocco’s Tangier
city to take advantage of the North African
country’s growing economy and increasing demand for quality automotive coatings.
The Osaka-based company, which is also
known for its wide range of industrial, protective and decorative coatings, is eager to take
advantage of a growing automotive market
that has been created mainly by European
