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Henkel exec honored for contributions to the City of Shanghai
By Richard Fu |
November 23, 2012, Friday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
Faruk Arig, the Shanghai-based executive of German cosmetics-to-glue maker Henkel, is convinced that he will continue to be deeply involved in the development of the city after winning the Shanghai Magnolia Award, a top honor for expatriates provided by the city government.
And he believes sustainability will be the key to both the company and the city.
"Sustainability is our DNA," said Arig, president for China and Korea operations at Henkel, the company which focus on Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies three business sectors.
"We hope we can contribute to Shanghai's sustainable development with our innovative products and technology," Arig said in an interview in his office at Henkel's Asia-Pacific and China headquarters in Shanghai's Zhangjiang High-Tech Park. He added the Chinese government's new five-year plan is focused on sustainability and that's in line with Henkel's development strategy.
Turkey-born Arig was one of the expatriates who were presented the Magnolia Award by the Shanghai municipal government in September. The award, named after the city flower, was established in 1989 to honor expatriates who have made contributions to local social and economic development.
Arig, who has been in charge of Henkel's China business for 16 years, praised Shanghai's business-friendly environment and said the company has established solid ties with the city government and several district governments and will continue to invest here.
Henkel also wants to be good corporate citizen, he said.
Social engagement or corporate citizenship has always been an integral part of Henkel's sense of responsibility as a company. Arig said this is a tradition that dates back to the company's founder, Fritz Henkel, and is firmly embedded in its corporate values.
And Arig has been doing his part in his spheres of influence with a focus on children, over time and across China. For example, in as early as 1996, Arig helped build libraries in 30 primary schools in Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the next year sponsored 240 students from impoverished families in 13 Chinese colleges on behalf of Henkel China.
More recently, Henkel China donated 100,000 yuan (US$16,040) worth of goods to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai in 2005 and financially supported 267 orphans in Jiangsu Province in 2009 and 2010.
"I think this is out of special consideration," Arig said of his children-focused social engagement. The coming generation is more important and investing into the future, in my point of view, makes more sense and is more valuable than just giving money to some charity organizations only.
"I love what I'm doing and I love where I'm living," said Arig, who lives with his wife and two children in Shanghai.
Arig said that although he personally won the Magnolia Award, he wants to give the credit to his colleagues who have worked together over the past years for the company's growth in China.
The company has invested more than US$400 million over the past 20-plus years in China, which is now Henkel's fifth-largest country market and makes up more than a third of its sales in the Asia-Pacific region.
Globally, emerging markets led by China are set to play an increasingly important role for the German consumer goods group.
Henkel said this month it's aiming for 20 billion euros (US$25.6 billion) of sales by 2016, up from 15.6 billion euros last year, with half coming from emerging markets compared with 44 percent now.
Henkel doesn't provide a country-by-country breakdown for sales.
Arig said the company's diversified and well-balanced portfolio could help it cope with the global slowdown as some industries it serves are crisis-proof.
And he believes sustainability will be the key to both the company and the city.
"Sustainability is our DNA," said Arig, president for China and Korea operations at Henkel, the company which focus on Laundry & Home Care, Beauty Care and Adhesive Technologies three business sectors.
"We hope we can contribute to Shanghai's sustainable development with our innovative products and technology," Arig said in an interview in his office at Henkel's Asia-Pacific and China headquarters in Shanghai's Zhangjiang High-Tech Park. He added the Chinese government's new five-year plan is focused on sustainability and that's in line with Henkel's development strategy.
Turkey-born Arig was one of the expatriates who were presented the Magnolia Award by the Shanghai municipal government in September. The award, named after the city flower, was established in 1989 to honor expatriates who have made contributions to local social and economic development.
Arig, who has been in charge of Henkel's China business for 16 years, praised Shanghai's business-friendly environment and said the company has established solid ties with the city government and several district governments and will continue to invest here.
Henkel also wants to be good corporate citizen, he said.
Social engagement or corporate citizenship has always been an integral part of Henkel's sense of responsibility as a company. Arig said this is a tradition that dates back to the company's founder, Fritz Henkel, and is firmly embedded in its corporate values.
And Arig has been doing his part in his spheres of influence with a focus on children, over time and across China. For example, in as early as 1996, Arig helped build libraries in 30 primary schools in Yan'an in northwest China's Shaanxi Province and the next year sponsored 240 students from impoverished families in 13 Chinese colleges on behalf of Henkel China.
More recently, Henkel China donated 100,000 yuan (US$16,040) worth of goods to the Children's Hospital of Fudan University in Shanghai in 2005 and financially supported 267 orphans in Jiangsu Province in 2009 and 2010.
"I think this is out of special consideration," Arig said of his children-focused social engagement. The coming generation is more important and investing into the future, in my point of view, makes more sense and is more valuable than just giving money to some charity organizations only.
"I love what I'm doing and I love where I'm living," said Arig, who lives with his wife and two children in Shanghai.
Arig said that although he personally won the Magnolia Award, he wants to give the credit to his colleagues who have worked together over the past years for the company's growth in China.
The company has invested more than US$400 million over the past 20-plus years in China, which is now Henkel's fifth-largest country market and makes up more than a third of its sales in the Asia-Pacific region.
Globally, emerging markets led by China are set to play an increasingly important role for the German consumer goods group.
Henkel said this month it's aiming for 20 billion euros (US$25.6 billion) of sales by 2016, up from 15.6 billion euros last year, with half coming from emerging markets compared with 44 percent now.
Henkel doesn't provide a country-by-country breakdown for sales.
Arig said the company's diversified and well-balanced portfolio could help it cope with the global slowdown as some industries it serves are crisis-proof.
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