MRM pg 1-5.pdf - Mabati Rolling Mills

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FROM THE EDITOR As the year takes its sundown dive, the Mabati News Editorial Board pauses to look back at 2006 as the year that was. As a team and as a Company we join hands to review our performance objectives in terms of delivery. Therefore it is time to celebrate whatever achievements we have realised and review those areas where we did not succeed as expected. This is a moment of truth. It is the time our readers take the centre stage because they are the ones to tell us on the face whether we lived up to their expectations or fell short. It is time to Members of the Editorial Board set higher delivery goals for the coming year. We would like to reassure our readers of an improvement taking into account your concerns and suggestions. We certainly share your sentiments of making every issue of Mabati News the most awaited publication by all our readers. However, 2006 will be remembered with nostalgia. It is the year when MRM became an international family member - the Safal Group. The Safal Group, Horn of Africa Region, was officially launched amidst pomp, colour and pageantry at a spectacular function at a Nairobi hotel this year (see the lead story). It is also the year in which MRM staff participated in the Nairobi Marathon and brought home a number of medals. It is the year when the MRM’s caring nature witnessed the inauguration of the Mabati Technical Training Institute at Mariakani, a significant contribution to society through the corporate social responsibility initiatives. It is the year in which the multi-million US dollar investment in the Pickling Line was officially commissioned. It is also the year in which MRM launched a number of new products, including the revolutionary roofing concept - SAFLOK700. What an eventful year. One can reflect, but for MRM it is just the beginning of greater things. The Mabati family is now focusing on the strategies of delighting all our customers through creative and customer-focused products and services. There is greater focus on empowering every MRM employee with target training opportunities to sharpen their talents and competencies in order to shift company performance to the next level in the true spirit of better performance and leadership. We take this opportunity to thank all our readers for their support and useful pieces of advice. We salute the MRM management for sponsoring the Mabati News publication. We congratulate Mr. Kaushik Shah for becoming the first CEO of the SAFAL Group, Horn of Africa Region. We also take this opportunity to wish MRM customers, staff members, families and friends and all our readers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous 2007. Cheers! Contents 2 - From the Editor 3 - The launch of SAFAL, Horn of Africa 5 - Chairman's Message 6 - COO’s Message 7 - Interview 8 - Mabati News 9 - Staff corner 10 - Pictorial MRM NEW STAFF Pochiraju Hanumantha Rao (Imports Officer, Mariakani) Reuben Kimaru Murguiyia (Production Supervisor) Daniel Kiptoo Arusei (Training Engineetr) 2 M A B A T I N E W S
THE LAUNCH OF SAFAL, HORN OF AFRICA REGION MABATINEWS Amid pomp and fireworks, SAFAL Group was officially launched on the 26th of October, 2006 in a colourful ceremony in Nairobi. In attendance were both local and foreign guests. The unveiling ceremony was carried out by Dr Manu Chandaria, Chairman of the Comcraft Group of Companies, accompanied by his wife Aruna, and Mr. D.P. Shah, Senior Director, together with his wife. SAFAL incorporates four clusters mainly Horn of Africa region, Great Lakes Region, Southern Africa and South Africa. The Great Lakes Region launch was carried out in August 2006, in Kampala. SAFAL Horn of Africa region includes Mabati Rolling Mills Ltd., Athi River, Nairobi and Mariakani, Insteel Limited and Ethiopian Steel PLC. Mr. Kaushik Shah is the CEO. In his welcoming address, he had the following message to share: “In today’s business environment, more than at any one time in history, the only constant is change. Markets, Products, Technology and Competitive Conditions are rapidly changing ... What this means for us and, indeed for all organizations, is that we must possess the capacity and goodwill to adapt to these changes effectively. Indeed, any organization, large or small, that fails to change could pay a very heavy cost, which could impact on its very survival! On the other hand, organizations that effectively manage change by continuously adapting their bureaucracies, strategies, systems, products and cultures to survive the shocks of change; should benefit and prosper. Reality today is that leaders and managers MUST become Masters of Change and Renewal to effectively lead their organizations to greater levels. Those who do not will continue to struggle. Tonight, Ladies and Gentlemen, we will be celebrating the results of our organizations’ renewal … As my role was to welcome you, I will not delve into the details of this important step that we have taken.” Mr. Sarit Shah, Director for South and Southern Africa Region, took the audience through the genesis, current state and future of SAFAL. Dr. Manu Chandaria, in his usual jovial mood, gave an inspiring address, highlights of which are reproduced here: “The recent World Bank report on Africa says that Africa is listed as the most difficult place in the world to do business. However there are lots of opportunities and some of the companies are doing extremely well in spite of all the problems of insecurity, famine, HIV/aids and difficult political situations. All of us who are here know all this and yet we are running successful businesses. This is largely due to our commitment, dedication and hard work. SAFAL is no exception. Thanks to all of you for your support to us, the SAFAL Group is now in a number of countries in eastern Africa and southern Africa and hope it will have its presence in many more countries in Africa. In my various speeches I keep on addressing the government that Kenya’s best resource is its human resource - its professionals and, above all, its entrepreneurs. Our workforce can be quickly trained and our professionals are equally a brand on their own not only in Kenya but also in many African countries and in Europe and the United States. Our entrepreneurs are second to none. They are not only entrepreneurs of Kenya but also of the region. Today our world is a global village; it's global in nature, it's global in manufacturing, it's global in trading, its global in services. Under these circumstances economies like China, India, Brazil and Russia are going to compete for the same Kenya shillings or any other African currencies which are in the pockets of our people. Today’s trend is that they are out to invest in Africa for natural resources and, against that, they will flood the markets of Africa with goods which are manufactured in their countries. Because of the scale of manufacturing, they are cheaper than ours. This onslaught is going to upset a number of economies unless we all get together and continue to keep our markets and propagate “made in Africa” as our first responsibility and keep jobs of our people and our children. This will require a lot of Africanness. Today in Kenya we are seeing a period of turbulent politics; but we are also seeing M A B A T I N E W S 3
Page 1: Volume 3, 4th Quarter 2006 is launc
Page 5 and 6: CHANGING OUR COUNTRY WHO SHOULD TAK
Page 7 and 8: Japheth Ojango has been the shop st
Page 9 and 10: Seeing the big picture in teamwork
Page 11 and 12: Dr. Manu Chandaria delivers his spe
Page 13 and 14: Christmas As a Christian kid, I gre
Page 15 and 16: ECONOMIC PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENTS By
Page 17 and 18: awards MABATINEWS OVERALL CORPORATE
Page 19 and 20: M A B A T I N E W S 19

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