Interview with Reynave, Chairman and CEO of Arkema
Arkema is a global chemical company and a leading chemical manufacturer in France. Since its listing in Paris in 2006, Arkema has developed vigorously in its involved business fields. 90% of its business ranks among the top three in the world. Over the past two decades, Arkema’s business in China has grown gradually, and the Chinese market has now become one of Arkema’s top three markets in the world.
Since entering the Chinese market, Arkema has made in-depth investment in the local market, continuously strengthening the Group’s business development here. In recent years, with the changes in the Chinese market, Arkema has ushered in new development opportunities. During the 13th Five-Year Plan period, China will continue to deepen economic transformation and upgrading, and further achieve sustainable development and environmental friendliness. This is an excellent development opportunity for Arkema, which is constantly developing green, innovative and environmentally friendly products.
“The Chinese market is one of our strategic priorities for development”
Mr. Thierry Le Hénaff, Chairman and CEO of Arkema, visited China again this year and emphasized again: “The Chinese market is one of the strategic priorities for our development .” Faced with this market where opportunities and challenges coexist, Arkema has made a specific strategic layout. “At present, Arkema has a total of 12 product lines in the world, of which 9 product lines have entered China, mainly due to two considerations: we hope to better seize the growth opportunities in the Chinese market through localized R&D and production; The production base can better meet the needs of the Asian market.”
In addition, Reynave said, “Our focus will be on existing projects and investments first, to further deepen and strengthen our R&D and innovation capabilities, and make better use of our Manufacturing resources that China has invested in.”
(Chairman and CEO of Arkema Reinave)
Innovation, an important driving force for Arkema
Arkema always regards innovation as the top priority of corporate sustainable development. Arkema spends 2.5% of its global turnover on product research and development, and is committed to developing sustainable innovative solutions to meet current and future market needs. In 2015, Arkema was included in the annual list of “Top 100 Global Innovators” by Thomson Reuters for the fifth consecutive year, and its innovation capability has been highly recognized by the industry. “Arkema is not just a chemical company. We develop high value-added product solutions for multiple application fields. We are an innovation-driven company, and we are designers of high-performance materials and innovative solutions.” Lei Mr Enaf said.
In 2016, Arkema will celebrate its 10th anniversary. Mr. Reynave expressed his expectation for this, “Over the past ten years, we have grown globally, and through solid and ambitious strategic deployment step by step to promote and strengthen our deepening transformation, let us help customers face new challenges.”
Globally, Arkema has a clear strategic focus in the medium and long term. “We will make full use of the potential of the new adhesive platform established with Bostik, and accelerate the development of HPM through innovative R&D and complementary acquisitions. At the same time, we have five priority projects for key development: the vulcanization platform in Asia, A new generation of fluorine gas products (a Forane® 1234yf plant will be built in Changshu in the future), acrylic acid downstream industries, composite materials and high-performance advanced thermoplastics, as well as oil and gas additives.”
In the Chinese market, through Changshu R&D Center and domestic application laboratories, Arkema serves the local market closely. Talking about the specific innovation projects in the Chinese market, Mr. Reenav pointed out: “Our innovative research and development will be carried out in several aspects, such as long-chain polymer materials, product applications in the sports and automotive industries, and in the solar industry. organic peroxides.”
“The Chinese market is still full of opportunities”
Arkema believes that China’s development trend is full of opportunities. The Chinese market is very important to Arkema, now and in the future.
China’s economic development has entered a more mature stage, and the per capita GDP has exceeded 8,000 US dollars. Although China’s economic growth rate is relatively slow, it is also normal. The slowdown has played out differently in different industries, but China remains one of the strongest growth markets.
Mr. Reenauve, “We have� Transformation is ready. Current economic trends will not change our commitment to serving the Chinese market and the Asian market, which remains an important growth area for Arkema. In recent years, we have made large-scale investments in the field of special polymers and acrylic production chains, and entered the adhesive market through the acquisition of Bostik. At the same time, at Arkema’s largest production platform in the world – Changshu Base, we are also building a new production line for fluorine gases and organic peroxides. “
In order to better realize Arkema’s expectations for the Chinese market, Mr. Reenav said: “We will fully mobilize the Group’s R&D resources in China. At the same time, Arkema’s global The best practice measures including operational excellence will further ensure the sustainable development of China’s business.”
“The introduction of environmental regulations is definitely good news for Arkema”
In 2015, China successively promulgated a series of laws and regulations related to environmental protection. “For Arkema, the promulgation of environmental protection regulations provides us with new development opportunities.” Reina Mr. Fu said, “Arkema attaches great importance to the issue of climate change and is always committed to reducing its environmental footprint and providing sustainable and innovative solutions to customers. For example, the demand for low-VOC products in the Chinese market will increase day by day. As a substitute for traditional lead-acid batteries, lithium batteries will be more popular in the market. This is definitely good news for Arkema.”
Arkema supports sustainable development worldwide. At the 21st United Nations Climate Conference (COP21) held in Paris this year, Arkema participated in the “Climate Noah’s Ark” program launched by the French government, as an official supplier, to manufacture the official image ambassador of COP21 – 140 Only the animals on Noah’s Ark provide materials. Arkema also made a commitment to support a low-carbon economy, helping the conference to reach a hopeful and sustainable global climate agreement.
Not only in Paris, this sustainable development trend has also been fully implemented in China. “As a responsible chemical product manufacturer, Arkema has launched a series of measures to address environmental challenges, including environmental protection measures at the Shanghai factory and the development of water-based coatings, etc.”
“Arkema is an ideal place for career development”
Talent is an important development engine for enterprise development, and it is the same for Arkema. In the face of such a dynamic market in China, Mr. Reyneuf said: “Arkema’s competitiveness comes from innovation, leading technology, and high-quality talents.”
As for how to further cultivate talents, Mr. Reenav said, “Arkema has many world-leading business fields, and at the same time it has created a lot of career development opportunities for employees. We have a comprehensive With the support of a mature training mechanism, young people have the opportunity to take on important responsibilities. Arkema is an ideal place for career development for aspiring talents in the chemical field.”
In China, Arkema has long been concerned with the cultivation and development of young talents. For example, Mr. Reenav said that Arkema has set up and distributed scholarships at East China University of Science and Technology for eight consecutive years; at the end of 2015, Mr. Dai Renwei, President of Arkema Greater China, personally went to the campus presentation to more than 10 outstanding students. Scholarships were awarded. In 2016 alone, Arkema provided about 50 jobs for Chinese graduates. “I am personally very happy to see that there are many young Chinese who are eager to join us. “
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