GROWTH & DEVELOpMENT
pG
19
Earlier this year the firm introduced a
Crown Colour App, first of its kind mobile
application in themarket that makes it easier
for customers to make a more accurate
selection of their preferred home interior
colour scheme. The App which is available
on both the Google play Store and the
Apple Store will help more customers in the
region to make colour choices without any
difficulties.
The newplant is expected to create hundreds
of jobs directly and indirectly to the locals.
Crown has an annual turnover of more than
KShs. 6Billion and is expected touse the new
machine as a launching pad into the wider
East African market particularly Tanzania.
“Aspartofourcontinuousinnovation, setting
up of this plant which we are referring to as
the ‘Greenfield project’ for manufacturing
paints in Kisumu will cater for the Western
region and also export to our neighbouring
Tanzania”, Rao noted.
The firm’s performance in Tanzania has been
difficult due to high operation costs and
setting up of Kisumu plant is expected to
boost the firm’s sales and market share. “We
anticipate revenues frompaints and coatings
industry in Kenya and Tanzania to rise from
USD123.3 million to USD188.5 million by the
year 2018. As Crown paints expect rapid
growth in the coming years due to robust
growth of the construction industry which
will lead to more employment opportunities
for Kenyans and direct contribution to the
Country’s GDp”, he argued.
The principal Secretary State Department
of Industry and Enterprise Development, Mr.
Julius Korir who graced the event together
with Kisumu Governor, Jack Ranguma
called on counties identified by government
as special economic zones to hasten the
process. The zones were set up in coast
area and Nyanza to drive SMEs growth. He
said the plan was meant to provide investors
unlimited access to local and international
markets.
Kisumu Governor, lauded Crown paints
move to establish a plant in the county,
acknowledging that the paint company was
reinforcing the fact Kisumu county was
on the right track to establish itself as an
economic hub in the region.
From left: Crown paints CEO, Rakesh Rao, State Department of industry and Enterprise Development- principle Secretary, Julius Korir, His
Excellency the Governor of Kisumu, Hon Jack Ranguma (second right) and the factory Head, Shailesh patel.
