Belgium eyes M’sia for manufacturing, R&D, distribution operations

BRUSSELS: The visit by a 300strong Belgian economic delegation to Malaysia from Nov 22-26 is geared towards exploring opportunitiesforestablishingmanufacturing, research and development (R&D), and distribution operations in the country.

The economic delegation is being led by Belgium’s Princess Astrid.

Jeroen Direkx, managing director (derivatives) of Oleon NV, a leading Belgian company told Bernama that his organisation had been operating in Malaysia for a Long time.

The company converts vegetable oils into fatty acids and then into ethers. Its biggest market is the lubricant sector.

“We are also active in oil-field chemicals and collaborate with Petronas. Oleon is also active in other applications such as the beauty industry and food additives,” he added.

He said Oleon was taking its Malaysian presence to the next level by setting up a global innovative R&D centre with an investment of between 4.5 million to five million euros.

“We are keen to peg down our costs by setting up a R&D centre in Malaysia where it is cost-efficient. Asia is also a fast-growing market, particularly in the applications sector.

“The cosmetics industry, for example, varies from country to country, depending on consumer tastes. Many of our Asian customers can be served from our Malaysian and Asean operations,” explained Direkx, who is also headed for Malaysia.

The proposed R&D centre is projected to be a “satellite” to the company’s Novance Innovation Centre in France, which assumes a crucial role for the French Group Sofiprotel, that owns Oleon.

The Frankfurt office of the Malaysia Investment Development Authority(Mida),whichalsolooks after Belgium as part of its jurisdiction, has been actively pushing Oleon to set up the R&D centre in Malaysia.

Another company in the delegation is Lhoist, which was given a manufacturing licence by Malaysia in 2007 to produce calcium carbonate quicklime, slaked lime and hydrated lime.

Lhoist was also given approval in 2013 to set up a high-tech laboratory, a regional lime-application development centre in Perak. A toxic-waste purification plant is also planned in the Klang Valley.