Sigma Paints has consolidated its presence in the Middle East over the past 21 years, the last two years or so seeing it spread its wings in the Qatari, Syrian, Egyptian and Yemeni markets and evaluating fresh prospects for products and exports.

Sigma Paints S.A. Ltd. has been active in the Middle East since 1980 when it started its operations as a Saudi/Dutch joint venture in Saudi Arabia. Since then, the company has developed in a very positive way. Not only has Sigma become the 'household name' for quality paints and coatings for many professionals and consumers, it has also expanded its geographical horizon tremendously.

Sigma Paints is active in the segments of decorative paints (brand name Sigma) and marine & protective coatings (brand name Sigma Coatings). Within the worldwide SigmaKalon Group, Sigma Paints is responsible for the Middle East area. Its geographical horizon now encompasses 13 countries in the region (Saudi Arabia, Yemen, United Arab Emirates, Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Iran, Egypt and the Republic of Maldives). In recent months, Sigma Paints has actively strengthened its infrastructure in various areas.

On January 1, 2001, Sigma Paints Qatar WLL officially started its commercial operations. Sigma Paints Qatar, managed by Denis Keenan, is rapidly expanding its local operation to become one of the leading suppliers of quality paints, with the best after-sales service in Qatar. A new distribution facility in Salwa and sales office in Doha have effectively improved the ability to respond quickly to customer needs in offering a large range of high-performance coatings and decorative paints, readily available from the Salwa warehouse. Projects and companies supplied with Sigma's range of industrial coatings include Qafco (Qatar Fertiliser company) Qatargas, Sulphur Recovery expansion project and the Al-Khaleej offshore (TotalFinaElf) project. The Doha Sheraton, Awqaf housing development and many villas in the Doha area have also been decorated and refurbished using Sigma's range of decorative paints.

As from December 2001, Sigma Paints has become responsible for the sales of marine and protective coatings (MPC) in Syria. The agent for these products is Assad Delaware Engineering in Damascus and Homs.

Sigma Paints has appointed Kuwait Shipbuilding & Repairyard Co. (KSRC) as its agent for Marine and Protective Coatings in Kuwait. The co-operation between the two companies had been announced during the International Oil & Gas Exhibition in Kuwait (KIPEC) that took place in the beginning of February 2002. KSRC is the biggest steel fabrication company in Kuwait and the owner of the Kuwait dry-docks. Sigma Paints was very active in the Iranian market in 2001, where it supplied more then 1 million litres of paint to the South Pars project.

"With the current business outlook, especially of the Oil &Gas sector in Iran, the year 2002 promises to be an even better one. Sigma Paints has therefore decided to expand and improve its current warehousing and production facilities in the Iranian market," said Sigma Paints Middle East general manager Jo Paffen.

Paffen also announced that Sigma Paints Egypt would soon take over the commercial responsibilities of Euroquarzo for the marine & protective coatings business in the Egyptian market.

"But Sigma Paints is also evaluating the potential of the decorative paints business in that market. Strong future growth of the Sigma business in this country is therefore foreseen," he said.

Pafffen also revealed that the company recently strengthened its market position in Yemen and Syria by setting up a network of exclusive, single-brand dealers in the most important cities.

When Sigma Paints started in 1980 as a Saudi/Dutch joint venture it focused on the Saudi Arabian market where it enjoys a market leader position and where it continuously invests to improve its customer service level. With the expansion of the company's presence in a wider geographical area, Sigma Paints has accelerated its export growth throughout the Middle East as well, said Paffen. The Sigma strategy is supported and reinforced by its Saudi shareholders as well as by its worldwide parent company SigmaKalon, the fifth largest paints and coatings manufacturer worldwide.

Sigma Paints S.A. Ltd is the leading company in the development, production and marketing of decorative paints, protective coatings and marine coatings in the Middle East with an annual production capacity of 60,000 tons and 250 employees.

"In Saudi Arabia, Sigma Paints is the largest in its field. Established in 1980, with its own production, storage, research and development facilities in Dammam, Sigma Paints offers Middle East customers the highest quality paint and application solutions. Sigma's expertise is inherited from its association with Sigma Coatings Holland that was founded in 1722," says Paffen proudly. Sigma Paints is part of SigmaKalon, the result of a merger in 1999 between Sigma Coatings and Kalon, which is owned by TotalFinaElf. SigmaKalon has a sales turnover of $2 billion and employs 10,000 people in 50 countries across the world.