3M , the well-known technology solutions company, will continue to bring innovative solutions and products to Kuwait as it is focused on creating value for its customers through the 40+ technology platforms it owns in 3M , said Martin Parsons , Country Manager - Kuwait and Qatar, 3M Gulf , in an interview with Kuwait Times.
Over the years, 3M has made some inroads into specific areas of safety and drilling in Kuwait. With the accelerated investment - both ongoing and planned - 3M sees a huge potential for many of its products/solutions and has plans to address the same through a more focused approach, he explains. Excerpts:
KT: Tell us a bit about 3M 's presence in Kuwait.
Parsons : 3M has been operating in Kuwait for many years, as part of 3M Gulf 's operations based out of Dubai. Over the years, we have built strong presence through focusing on the primary market segments, thus driving end-user focus and creating value for our customers in multiple segments.
KT: Do you offer your entire product range to the Kuwaiti market?
Parsons : 3M produces over 65,000 products globally. What brings our focus to a particular country is based solely on the various opportunities that this country can offer us. The primary market segments for us in Kuwait are Consumer, Healthcare, as well as Oil & Gas. Opportunities are also arising in Infrastructure. Our aim is to continue bringing innovative solutions and products to every market that we serve and are focused on creating value for our customers, through the 40+ technology platforms that we own in 3M .
KT: What are the main areas/divisions which you focus on priority in Kuwait?
Parsons : The Oil & Gas sector is of high significance to Kuwait, and is a primary market segment for us. Kuwait has been heavily investing in the oil and gas industry for many years. The sector currently accounts for about 60 per cent of the country's GDP, and about 95 per cent of its export revenues.
Although we have been serving this market for some time now, we believe that there are still plenty of opportunities that have arisen in this segment. We have made some inroads into specific areas of safety and drilling areas. However, with the accelerated investment - both on-going and planned - we see a huge potential for many of our products/solutions and have plans to address the same, through a more focused approach.
KT: How strong is 3M 's presence in the oil & gas sector in Kuwait given the fact that this industry is of high significance to the Kuwaiti market?
In order to complement our objectives to accelerate our penetration and expansion in the region by leveraging the enormous opportunities that it offers, we opened a Mining, Oil & Gas division unit within 3M Gulf in September of last year. We have since been investing with front end resources for managing key accounts /stake holders, and providing technical support in the field - factors that are all critical for long-term success in the segment.
KT: What are 3M 's contributions to the Oil & Gas sector? What are the main products/solutions which 3M provides?
Parsons : 3M supplies thousands of innovative products to the global oil and gas industry and its applications. From everyday essentials - such as respirators, abrasives and electrical connects - to advanced materials for preventing corrosion and reducing the density of down hole cements, 3M technologies offer a wealth of ingenious solutions to many of today's toughest challenges.
3M Oil & Gas products are divided into three categories - Upstream, Midstream, and Downstream. Upstream segment helps improve drilling efficiency, maintain pipeline integrity and protect valuable equipment and personnel. 3M Midstream solutions protect pipelines against corrosion, manage underground assets and ensure reliable product flow - even under extreme conditions. 3M Downstream solutions are designed for refining and storage applications to promoting brand image. Our technologies help improve productivity, promote safety, and, most importantly, keep businesses up and running.
KT: Give us a few details of key projects handled in the past in Kuwait?
Parsons : There are various projects and opportunities that we have been working on in Kuwait, both with the government and private sectors, whether in improving safety at the workplace, productivity, efficiency, border management solutions or in providing the latest technologies for the Intelligent Traffic management systems.
KT: What are 3M 's latest innovations for the oil & gas sector?
Parsons : We have recently expanded our line of products in our Personal Protection Equipment division to include 3M Fall Protection products. It provides safe and secure solutions that can be trusted by a company's employees who work at height. We also have the technical resources to help with the Competent Person Training, a program in which 3M Fall Protection Trainers can help protect workers from injuries or death - and avoid costly safety violations, and on site fall hazard evaluations.
KT: What are 3M 's future plans and investments for Kuwait?
Parsons : We currently have a strong presence in Kuwait, with a focus on key markets, with support from the 3M Gulf operations team in Dubai. We will continue to evaluate opportunities for growth in the Kuwaiti market, and provide innovative solutions to different segments of the market. With Kuwait being a primary focus for the Gulf region, we do see an opportunity for further penetration in some of the key segments, such us Consumer, Healthcare and Oil & Gas industries.
