The event, slated for October 23 -24, has as theme:”Raw Materials Sourcing for Coating Industry”. It was planned to show-case the various materials, machinery, production and testing equipment, including packaging materials used in paints’ production, inks and allied products, among others.
Briefing the media on the highlights of the event, Association’s Chairman, Mr. Rotimi Aluko, hinted that since the maiden event of the show in 2006, the programme has been growing, both in participation and attendance, “getting bigger and more rewarding to both exhibitors and paint manufacturers of Nigeria,” he said.
The prospective exhibitors for the 2017 show include participants from United Kingdom, Germany, Greece, Turkey, Singapore, South Africa, India among others, while the Guest Speaker will be the Director General/CEO, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), Dr. H.B. Ibrahim.
Special Guest is the Lagos State Commissioner for Trade, Industry and Commerce, Mr. Rotimi Ogunleye, with other guests, that include DG/Chief Executive, Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Mr. Osita Anthony Abolama, DG, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), Mr. Segun Ajayi-Kadir, among others.
Explaining the challenges the paint industry has been facing, especially, in the last two years, PMA chairman noted that one of the major challenges was scarcity/high cost of raw materials, majority of which are not locally available.
“However, we in the paint industry are always proactive by not allowing the economic situation to put us down. Though, it wasn’t easy, but all what we did was to ensure that we weren’t compromised on quality and also ensured that reasonable prices attached to our products.
“Besides, we used the opportunity of recession to engaged in serious research to make sure that we will reap maximum post-recession opportunities, knowing fully well that business goes through certain cycles. Hence, the determination by the association to do the needful by keeping the business going”, said Aluko, noting that, though, not as every thing is now rosy, but as of reality, the gain or proof of post recession may not be instantaneous, but gradual.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the association, Mr. Jude Maduka, said PMA, apart from promoting paint technology in Nigeria, is working in collaboration with the SON to ensure that quality products are not compromised.
Besides, he stated that beyond Nigeria, PMA is also working with other paint manufactures, especially, among the ECOWAS nations, where issue of standard has been discussed.
“We want to ensure standardisation, whereby products from Nigeria will be of the same quality with the ones from, say Ghana, Togo, Benin Republic, and other member states.
“Moreover, for the fact the industry plays a lot of roles in the Nigerian economy, we are bent on promoting paint technology by ensure that more local contents are sourced”. Maduka, added.
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