By MH Reporter
Zero Waste, Responsible Consumption and Production have earned BIDCO Africa accolades from the visiting Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Plantation and Commodities, the Honourable Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof.
“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,” said the Malaysian Deputy Prime Minister.
Speaking during a courtesy call and plant tour at BIDCO Africa’s headquarters in Thika, the Malaysian Prime Minister said that his team did not come to teach BIDCO but instead learn from them.
“It is all about sharing of 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 Dato’ Sri Haji Fadillah Bin Haji Yusof.
BIDCO Africa Chairman Vimal Shah while thanking the deputy Prime Minister reiterated BIDCO’s belief in local value addition and home-grown solutions by applying innovative approaches in empowering Kenyan farmers in quality Oil Seed production to a manufacturing process that increases value of all primary agricultural commodities.
“It is so symbolic that you have come here because we started off the Malaysian connection 37 years ago and from 1991 when we set up our first refinery and fractionation plant here in Thika processing Soybean, Sunflower and Corn oil doing 200 tonnes per day,” narrated Vimal adding that with time they realized that the market was getting bigger, expanded by additional 600 tones capacity and today BIDCO does 800 tones in just Palm Oil processing.
“Our Farm to Fork philosophy remains part our cultural values as a totally Kenyan company contributing to local manufacturing and sustainable development to enhance Happy Healthy Living,” said Baker Magunda, Managing Director BIDCO Africa.
Gerald Mahinda, a member of BIDCO’s Board of Directors described their Group contribution to East African economy has been immense through paid taxes, creation of 4,500 jobs directly, 11,300 jobs indirectly plus 30,000 farmers on boarded into inclusive agribusiness.
The Deputy Prime Minister was accompanied by the Malaysian High Commissioner to Kenya his Excellency Ruzaimi Mohamed and the Malaysian Oil Palm Council (MOPC).
ABOUT BIDCO AFRICA
BIDCO Africa is East Africa’s largest FMCG manufacturer. Founded in 1985, BIDCO Africa is the market leader in the edible oils and fats categories in Kenya. BIDCO Africa also 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.