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According to its group managing director John Chua Seng Chai, the group's three plants - in Kuching, Seremban and Shanghai in China - have a combined annual production capacity of 15 million sq m. The Kuching plant contributes 70% to group production last year while the Seremban and Shanghai plants each accounts for 15% of the total output.
Kim Hin recorded a pre-tax profit of RM7mil on a turnover of more than RM200mil for the financial year ended Dec 31, 2000.
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"We expect to do better this year," Chua told reporters after conducting a tour of the Kim Hin plant for Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister and State Finance and Public Utilities and Industrial Development Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam yesterday.
According to Chua, Kim Hin has emerged from the regional financial crisis "much stronger and leaner" with increased yearly production from 9 million sq m in 1997. It now has a 30% market share in Malaysia, and controls about 80% of the Sarawak market.
"Kim Hin is now totally debt-free and has about RM60mil cash reserves in banks. Financially, we are strong. A lot of our competitors are in debt," Chua said.
He said that with the cash reserves, the company could look for investment opportunities.
Nearly 30% of the group's output is exported to over 20 countries, including Singapore, Australia, Hong Kong, the US, Japan and those in the Middle East. The group ships about 600 containers of products per month to its overseas customers.
Asked if the company was exploring new markets, Chua said it was concentrating on markets like Australia where it had advantages over its competitors.
He said the company was well prepared for the competition when the Asean free trade area (Afta) came into force in 2003.
"We hope to form strategic alliances or partnerships with manufacturers in Asean, Europe and the US," he said.
Joint Effort to Develop Ceramics Park
KIM Hin Industry Bhd has teamed up with Amanah Saham Sarawak (ASSAR) to undertake the development of the proposed Sarawak ceramics park in Kota Samarahan near Kuching.
A feasibility study on the 80ha project is underway following the recent signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two parties.
Kim Hin group managing director John Chua Seng Chai said in Kuching yesterday that a detailed proposal on the project would be submitted to the Sarawak state government for approval.
If everything goes well, the project is expected to kick off next year. The project's development cost is estimated at RM50mil.
Chua said the proposed eco-friendly integrated park was mooted to promote the systematic development of the ceramics industry, and it would cater for ceramic, pottery and handicraft makers.
The park is expected to have a research and development centre, and it will source the raw materials for ceramic production.
Preliminary contacts have been made with University of Valencia in Spain and University of Bologna in Italy to obtain their expertise in product design and R&D activities.
Chua said there was a proposal to get Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UiTM) to collaborate with these universities to offer ceramic courses to train skilled workers for the industry.
Sarawak Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Dr George Chan Hong Nam, who was briefed on Kim Hin operation during a tour of its plant yesterday, said the state government wanted to implement the proposed ceramics park as soon as possible and would provide the necessary infrastructure for the project.
Chan said that once the park was set up, it would enable the state government to monitor the orderly development of the ceramics industry.
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