French Chemical Company opens Office in Nairobi

Safic-Alcan, a French distributor of specialty chemicals, has expanded its presence in Africa by entering the Kenyan market with the opening of a new subsidiary there.

Other markets in the East African region, such as Tanzania, Uganda, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will be served by Safic-Alcan East Africa.

“We are thrilled to be expanding our presence in Africa, a continent that is becoming increasingly important in the formulating industry,” said Yann Lissillour, chief executive officer (CEO) of the Safic-Alcan group.

According to the business, Safic-Alcan’s new office in Kenya will supplement its current regional hubs in South Africa and Egypt, allowing it to better serve the needs of its expanding customer base on the continent.

Philip Kamau, who was appointed Development Director East Africa, will lead the company’s efforts in the East African market.

“By investing in Africa, we are catering to a consumer market of 250 million people in Eastern Africa, and we are confident that our new subsidiary in Kenya will help us better serve our customers and grow our business in the region,” added Mr Lissillour.

For the rubber, coatings, adhesives, thermoplastics, polyurethane, lubricants, detergency, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and nutraceuticals industries, the French company develops and offers a broad range of polymers, materials, and additives.

It employs 780 people globally and has a network of 35 strategically placed offices in Europe, Turkey, the Middle East, North America, Mexico, South America, China, and South Africa.

The business also disclosed that, starting on May 1st, 2023, it has signed an extended distribution contract with Orion Engineered Carbons in Eastern Africa.

The distribution agreement will cover rubber carbon black for uses in polymers, coating and ink systems, mechanical rubber goods, and other specialized applications.

“We are excited to further extend our long-running partnership with Orion Engineered Carbons, a global leader in engineered carbon blacks,” said Mr Kamau.

“We are confident that this new agreement will further strengthen our relationship with Orion and will allow us to enhance our product portfolio and product offering in Eastern Africa and thus satisfy a wider range of customers.”