Dow Chemical expands worldwide

The Dow Chemical Company has announced a number of worldwide expansion plans. The company recently announced that it will open an office in Chengdu, China in the first half of 2012. Serving as Dow’s business and sales hub in Western China, the new office will help the company further explore growth opportunities in the emerging economies of the region.

“The Western China region is a new strategic area for Dow to accelerate our business growth in China,” said Peter Sykes, president of Dow Greater China. “We expect to continue expanding at a double-digit annual rate over the next five to ten years, and we foresee significant opportunities in Western China thanks to major government infrastructure investments and the size of this region.”

Today, Dow operates 18 manufacturing sites and six business centers across the Greater China region, mainly in the Eastern and Southeastern coastal areas and Taiwan. In 2010, Dow recorded total sales of more than $4 billion in Greater China, which is Dow’s second largest international market.

Dow also announced plans to expand its operations in Africa by opening offices in Algeria and Ghana. The company reported that the decision to open the new offices and employ more sales staff in Africa follows a dedicated study to identify opportunities and to finalize an operating structure that will deliver maximum effect and return for the company in Africa. This is directly in support of the Dow business strategy to multiply sales in the medium term.

The new sales offices will complement existing Dow operations in Egypt, Kenya and South Africa, where the company has more than 50 years of operating history and employs more than 240 people. This expansion supports Dow’s commitment to growth from emerging geographies, bringing the company closer to its growing customer base in Africa.

“With a population of over 1 billion people, significant and consistent economic growth rates over the last 10 years and improved corporate governance and transparency, there has never been a better time to expand Dow’s focus and participation in Africa,” said Dow chairman and CEO Andrew Liveris. “This expansion signifies Dow’s commitment to investing in the needs of growing regions to help our customers address tomorrow’s challenges today.’’

Dow recently opened a new office in Rio de Janeiro, further strengthening its commitment to Brazil. Dow, a worldwide partner of the Olympic Games through 2020, opened its new office in the city with an event at Copacabana Palace for customers, public authorities and guests. The new office aims to create businesses focused on the opportunities arising from the sports events to take place in Rio in the next years. Additionally, the company wants to be closer to the production and distribution chain to the oil and gas industry, one of Rio de Janeiro’s high growth sectors.