Sayami Group to venture into packaging business

New Trade Hub, a subsidiary of Sayami Group, which has been recently appointed as the sole distributor of products manufactured by Lion Corporation Thailand, is preparing to establish a packaging plant for the products in Nepal. The company has recently started distributing the products in the market after being appointed as the sole distributor by Nepal Thailand Trade Cooperation, the sole stockiest of the Lion Corporation. Lion Corporation Thailand, which was established in 1969 with the machinery and technological know-how from its Japanese partner Lion Corporation Japan, currently produces environmental conscious consumer products such as Kodomo baby care range, Systema oral care range, Zact fabric care range, Shokubutsu, Q´Lean and Kirie Kirei personal care range, and Pro home care range. “We will be establishing a packaging plant in Nepal itself to manufacture the Lion product range within one or two years in order to reduce the price of the products as the packaging rate is high in Thailand,” said Manandhar, adding that the company is currently doing a market research by distributing the products through department stores, pharmacies and cosmetic stores. Manandhar, who has been running six different companies under the group, told Republica that the company also plans to manufacture the products of the Lion Corporation in the country - if the investment friendly environment is created.The company plans to establish the packaging plant in remote areas so that employment can be created there. For that the company will be investing around Rs 50 million. Besides, the company is also establishing a 5,500-square feet training institute at Sitapaila in Kathmandu . “We have started the construction of a building for the training center, with an investment of Rs 40 million, which will come into operation within two years,” said Manandhar. Manandhar, who currently employs 250 people in 6 companies run under Sayami group, said that the company has always been facing the problem of skilled man power. “In order to create skilled manpower through training and to minimize the drain of manpower to foreign countries, I have planned to establish a training center which will train the youth to provide them employment opportunity,” said Manandhar. Sayami Group is currently the distributor of products from Unilever in Kathmandu and also the sole distributor for Perfetti Van Melle, India throughout Nepal. Perfetti Van Melle has products such as Mentos, Alpenliebe, Chocoliebe, Chlormint and Happydent. Sayami group records an annual turn over of Rs 900 million and has 62 dealers in 30 districts.