Dutch coatings giant AkzoNobel has continued its expansion into Pakistan with a new manufacturing plant that comes with its own forest to boost its sustainability credentials.
The AUD$43 million investment in the site spread over 10 hectares and employ nearly 200 people, will produce a range of coatings including automotive and specialty coatings.
The Faisalabad location also has a 500m square forest spanning with more than 1,400 native trees and shrubs aimed at becoming a self-sustaining ecosystem over the next two years.
Akzo Nobel Pakistan CEO Mubbasher Omar says the site, has been constructed to comply with the company’s strict environmental standards, including as renewable energy generation and energy efficient design.
“Our investment in this greenfield site reaffirms our commitment to grow in Pakistan,” Omar says,
“It will fuel our ambition to diversify with sustainable innovations and enter new segments in the domestic market, while also providing new opportunities to delight customers beyond Pakistan.”
“We’ve also integrated agile manufacturing to accommodate future expansion in production volumes, thereby allowing AkzoNobel to be more competitive in the market,” continues Omar. “It’s the next step in continuing to build on the company’s 60-year track record of delighting paints and coatings customers in Pakistan with world class solutions.”