Walton sets good example for modern enterprises: German envoy

Economic Correspondent:  German ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Thomas Prinz said Walton is setting a good example for modern enterprises of Bangladesh in terms of ensuring workers’ safety, training, social welfare and adapting green technology at its production process.

“Walton is a modern factory. And, all the safety rules and regulations are maintained here. It is investing in workers’ training, safety and social welfares,” Prinz said.

The German envoy came up with the observations before the media after visiting different production units of the Walton Hi-Tech Industries Limited (WHIL), especially refrigerator, air conditioner, television and motorcycle units, and the display centre at Chandra in Gazipur on Thursday.

Prinz also unveiling the foundation-stone of refrigerator expansion project-4, funded by the KfW Development Bank, at the WHIL.

While expressing his reaction over the visit, Dr Prinz said, “Visiting Walton factory, I am absolutely astonished and got wonderful impression.”

The expansion project of the company for producing new models of refrigerators using green technology would be a role model not only for Bangladesh but also for Asia, he added.

KfW is impressive to support Walton’s introduction of green technology, he said adding that they were grateful to co-operate Walton in setting up such technology.

Prinz also hoped that Walton would be successful in this new project.

The German envoy was also accompanied by Lisa Steinacher, director special programmes (health and social security) of KfW, a German government-owned Development Bank, and Arif Iqbal Khan, senior investment manager of KfW, Dhaka.

Visiting the factory, Lisa Steinacher said she was deeply impressed by witnessing the professionalism of the company’s management and also the workers.

“We observed that the production processes at the Walton factory are a very complex procedure. It was really impressive to see how everything goes together,” Steinacher said.

She also thinks that the decision of KfW and DEG (The German Investment and Development Company) to provide loan to Walton was the right one.

She hoped that they would continue their co-operation.

Arif Iqbal Khan said they evaluated the production process, business and future prospect of Walton.

“Walton has been forthcoming and everything has left a good synergy,” he added.

Khan thinks that an agreement will be signed within a couple of weeks, which would be the start of a long-term relationship with Walton.

Managing Director of Walton SM Ashraful Alam said they are setting up the new refrigerator factory with German based PU technology.

From the next year, the manufactured products at the green technology based new factory unit will be exported to the developed countries like America and the European Union, he hoped.

Operative director of Walton Uday Hakim said the German envoy also visited the progress of compressor factory, which is now under construction at the WHIL.

“Walton is setting the Asia’s first ultra-modern techno processor based compressor plant in Bangladesh,” he said adding the produced compressor will be exporter after catering to the local demand.

During the event, Walton presented a video documentation highlighting the production processes of its different products.
   
SM Ashraful Alam welcomed the delegation at the factory premises by handing over flower bouquet while the company’s Executive Director (Finance) Abul Bashar Hawlader, Executive Director (Policy and HR) SM Zahid Hasan, Operative Director (Creative and Publication) Uday Hakim, and Lieutenant Col (Retd.) Abdul Kader, Col (Retd.) Shahadat Alam (Walton Microtech) among others, were also present.
 
Risingbd/DHAKA/May 31/2015/Augustin Sujan