(Right) Basco Paints General Manager, Mr. Aseem Doshi explained the new product range to (Centre) Mr. Solomon Kitungu, PS State Department of Public Works and (Left) Arch. Silvester Muli, Chairman of the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS), when they visited the Basco Paints exhibition stand during the BORAQS Continuous Professional Development (CPD) seminar. The two-day seminar with a theme on “Ensuring safe building and structures: The role of professionals & regulatory/enforcement agencies”, took place at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi on the 23rd and 24th of June 2022, which brought together over 600 architects and quantity surveyors from government and private sector.

(Centre) Basco Paints General Manager, Mr. Aseem Doshi heartily poses for a photo with (Right) Mr. Solomon Kitungu, PS State Department of Public Works and (Left) Arch. Silvester Muli, Chairman of the Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS), when they visited the Basco Paints exhibition stand during the BORAQS Continuous Professional Development (CPD) seminar. The two-day seminar with a theme on “Ensuring safe building and structures: The role of professionals & regulatory/enforcement agencies”, took place at Safari Park Hotel, Nairobi on 23rd and 24th, June 2022 which brought together over 600 Architects and Quantity Surveyors from government and private sector.

Board of Registration of Architects and Quantity Surveyors (BORAQS) CPD Seminar held from OF 23RD TO 24TH JUNE 2022 at the SAFARI PARK HOTEL
Speech by the Managing Director of Basco Paints, Mr. Kamlesh Shah

“Imagine jumping out of a skydiving plane and discovering your parachute doesn’t work. What memories would flash before you? Now imagine the parachute opened. How differently would you act when you landed?”

The scary thoughts that have been taking over the world for over two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic has simply taught us that health is a precious gift that shouldn’t be taken for granted. You all know the negative effect of this pandemic on businesses, but we’re thankful to you all for your continued support over the years, especially during the tough times.

Fuel prices have rocked and destabilised a lot of industries and sectors that we all operate in as it’s a significant determinant of worldwide economic performance. This price hike not only affected the masses but also every user individually. It affects the ultimate consumers since it’s directly shifted by the fuel manufacturing and refining companies. In the construction industry, we have all experienced this in one way or another, but we keep soldiering, right?

Despite the above challenges, we need to develop safe buildings and structures, bearing in mind the role of professionals and regulatory agencies. In Kenya, the poor population is disproportionately harmed by natural disasters such as floods, chronic risks, including recurring smaller-scale events like fires and spontaneous collapse. Unregulated settlements, which make up approximately 70%of Kenya’s cities, are often located in areas prone to such hazards and their informally constructed houses tend to be highly vulnerable to climate and disasters. This is exacerbated by the fact that extreme weather-related hazards are becoming the “new normal” across the region. To address this challenge, the government of Kenya needs to put in place appropriate legislation, policies and strategies to increase the resilience, and safety of the built environment.

Ladies and gentlemen, the paints and coatings sector are one of the most competitive industries in East Africa. Many manufacturers are striving to tailor their products and services to the needs of the consumer and to remain competitive in the market. Over the last decade, consumers have increasingly become more aware and conscious of the effects on health and the environment. This has added to the ever-tightening regulations of the government and international forums around the world, which has fuelled the race for manufacturers to deliver safer, greener, and healthier products.

In Kenya, the problem of lead in paints came to the fore in 2013 with the strong collaboration and participation of paint manufacturers, policymakers, regulators, researchers, academia, diverse media, and consumer networks, among other key stakeholders. In this regard, Kenyan paint manufacturers have been largely supportive and since the ban in 2018 they have made measurable progress and commitments towards establishing legal limits to phase out lead in all paints. Basco paints phased out lead driers back in 1999 over23 years ago. In addition, our core endeavour is to provide products that are not only the best in performance but also, safe to use. This will help to minimise the impact on our environment, especially on children. In continuation of the same, we were among the first companies in the Eastern Africa region to voluntarily migrate to lead-free paint in 2013.Ever since, the Duracoat range of decorative products have been lead-free for nine years. We have also partnered with the University of Nairobi to raise awareness of lead-free paints through the annual Sub-regional Lead Poisoning Prevention Week of Action in Kenya which is spearheaded by Dr. Farida Were of UON, Chemistry Department. We are committed to providing world-class paints to our customers. Our endeavour is to provide products that are not just the best in performance, but also safe, and minimize the impact on our environment. In continuation of the same objective, Basco Paints converted the entire range of Duracoat & Duracoat Royale Water-based decorative products to low –VOC in 2011 and we will continue to ensure that we provide paints that are environment-friendly for the good of our customers.

We emphasize on our vision to strive to bring excellence in our products and services and turn them into the most admired and preferred paint company in East Africa. We further provide expert solutions and inspiration through innovative, value-added products and services while enhancing stakeholder value.
Innovation is only innovation when it’s sustainable. Our priority is on continuous sustainable innovation in offering quality and environment-friendly paint. I could go on and on but in the interest of time, it’s predominant to mention that our partnership with BORAQS has been a fruitful one over the years and we appreciate the support and role played by the body in the paint industry. Bwana chairman, we proudly pledge our support and partnership for the coming years.

Ladies and gentlemen, allow me to highlight that today in line with the vision statement, we are proud to launch our latest innovation in this forum which is a water-based enamel paint known as “Duracoat Ultima Aqua Gloss Enamel.” It is a super-premium quality paint that comes with ahigh-gloss finish, which is suitable for use on interior and exterior metal, wood, and plastered surfaces, both new and previously painted, ideal for furniture, doors, skirtings and wall surfaces in kitchen, and bathrooms.

Key properties of the products: -

• Water-based enamel
• 100% acrylic
• Environment-friendly
• Odourless
• Non-yellowing
• Outstanding stain resistance

Additionally, early this year we launched our waterproofing range known as Duracoat AquaTech Waterproofing. I wish you all fruitful deliberations on safe buildings and structures, stay safe, and remember to adhere to COVID health protocol.