German beauty and chemical giant BASF has staged a comeback to Nigeria, after exiting for ten years.
In an interview with Nairametrics, the company’s Managing Director Jean-Marc Ricca and Vice President Market Area Africa Michael Goetsche and Linda Brown, Head of Communications and Transformation, Africa spoke on a wide variety of issues.
The company’s beginnings
BASF has operated in Africa for about 90 years. Initial operations were trading, before the firm moved into manufacturing.
The company’s operations in Nigeria
BASF has a construction chemical business in Nigeria which is completely local and is based in Ilupeju on the mainland of Lagos. The firm also has a beauty business. BASF also plans to go into the production of insulation materials. specializes in multiple industries and fields.
Nigeria is key
Nigeria also plays a key role in its operations The head of African operations is a Nigerian based in Lagos. The regional marketing manager is a Nigerian. The company’s only lab in Africa is also sited in Lagos.
As part of creating a skilled workforce, the company is going into partnership with the Lagos Business School (LBS).
BASF was established on the 6th of April 1865 by Friedrich Engelh and is the largest chemical producer in the world. BASF West Africa Limited was established in Lagos, Nigeria in July 2012.
In 2015, a construction chemicals production facility was opened in Lagos in order to serve the West African market. Industry portfolios represented in the African region include chemicals, plastics, dispersions, agricultural products, nutrition, oil and gas.