3M to set up manufacturing plant

Dubai: Minnesota, Mining and Manufacturing (3M) is planning to establish a manufacturing plant in the UAE this year, a senior official said.

Irfan Malek, managing director for the Middle East and Africa, told Gulf News on Sunday that the company is looking to expand operations in the country from the manufacturing and technical and professional services aspect.

Malek said that a location for the plant has already been secured but he did not reveal specifics.

"If all goes as planned, we will start the construction of the plant in the next few months," said Malek.

The manufacturing and technical developments will represent a major part of investment, according to Malek. An exact value of investment has not been decided yet as officials are still in the phase of considering operations within the plant. Thereby, if there is any specific value now, "it could significantly change," Malek said.

The general function of the plant is going to be "the value-add of products." Malek spoke of the products that go into the oil and gas, construction and hospitality segment.

Within the region, the company is doing "tremendously well", according to Malek. New offices were set up in Kuwait in recent years, with other expansions in the planning phase.

In Saudi Arabia, the company's growth efforts revolve around elevating technical and professional services as well as geographical expansion within the country by setting up more sales and distribution offices.

"A country like Saudi Arabia cannot be covered from one point; you need to expand the sales and distribution. That is where we are putting our money now," said Malek.

Qatar presents itself as a potential market in the near future for the company.

"As Qatar starts to increase its construction activities and health care facilities and put money back into the economy, the market, it will be very attractive for us," he said, adding that the other GCC countries of Oman and Bahrain have "always been a strong base" for the company.

"All the countries are doing well but the extensive expansion plans are surely in the UAE and Saudi Arabia," he said, adding that the company is looking at Qatar as well in terms of growth of local presence.