BIDCO Africa is currently processing 800 Mtons of palm oil per daily up from the initial 200 Mtons they produced when the company started the initial operations in the country.
According to BIDCO Africa Chairman Vimal Shah, the increase has been due to expansion of markets and demand for products.
Speaking when he hosted the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities, Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof at the BIDCO Africa in Thika , the chairman observed that it was symbolic since the company started off with the Malaysian connection some 37 years ago .
“From 1991 when we set up our first refinery and fractionation plant here in Thika processing Soybean, Sunflower and Corn oil doing 200 Mtons per day but with time realized that the market was getting bigger, expanded by an additional 600 Mtons to hit the 800 Mtons mark in just Palm Oil processing”, he said
Shah stressed on the need for promotion of local value addition and home-grown solutions insisting on adaptation of innovative approaches to empower Kenyan farmers in quality Oil Seed production to a manufacturing process that increases value of all primary agricultural commodities.
Hon Fadillah Bin Haji lauded BIDCO for Zero Waste, Responsible Consumption and Production saying , “I am very proud of your achievement; from what I have seen you have done wonderfully great things and managed to convert everything from Oil Palm into products without any waste”.
He reiterated that his team had visited the plant not to teach but to learn from the plant.
“It is all about sharing knowledge and learning from each other; let us collaborate and work together to form a strategic partnership. I believe we have all industry players with us and definitely you can collaborate with them in whatever ways of prosperity not only for the company but most importantly for the country, the people too and contribution to the world in producing affordable and healthy products to all people of the world,” added Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof.
BIDCO Africa Managing Director Baker Magunda said their farm to fork policy remains part of the cultural values as a Kenyan company that contributes to local manufacturing and sustainable development to enhance healthy living
“ Our core competence lies in a strong commitment to quality brands . We all know consumers now have a lot of choices so one has to be attentive to efficacy of the brands you are asking consumers to choose”, Magunda added
Gerald Mahinda, a member of BIDCO’s Board of Directors described their Group contribution to East African economy through creation of 4,500 jobs directly in five of our sites , 11,300 jobs indirectly plus 30,000 farmers on board into inclusive agribusiness.
“ our Contribution to economy last year alone we paid Ksh 4.5 billion shillings in taxes and in the last 5 years we have paid under 25 billion in total taxes “, he said
During the visit, the Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by the Malaysian High Commissioner to Kenya his Excellency Ruzaimi Mohamed and the Malaysian Oil Palm Council (MOPC).
BIDCO Africa is one of the market leaders in the edible oils and fats categories in Kenya it manufactures Hygiene and personal care products and most recently set foot in the Food and Beverages product categories producing noodles, juices, water, carbonated soft drinks and energy drinks.
By Wangari Ndirangu
