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11 Jan 2025KEDA's globalization journey has evolved from exporting products to exporting production capacity. In recent years, alongside investing in and establishing international factories, KEDA has accelerated mergers and acquisitions. During this period, international professionals with strong expertise have emerged, seizing opportunities to excel on KEDA's global stage.
They leverage their expertise to foster the growth of global businesses and ensure the smooth advancement of localization projects, achieving personal fulfillment while contributing to KEDA's growth and success.
| Deep Participation in Facilitating Major Global Investment Projects
Mr. King Yip Wong
Mr. King Yip Wong
Investment Senior Specialist, Strategic Investment Department at Headquarters
Since joining KEDA in 2019, Mr. King Yip Wong has actively contributed to and advanced many major global investment projects with his extensive professional expertise and strong execution skills, significantly supporting KEDA's "globalization" efforts.
In the ceramic machinery business, WONG took part in the preliminary research and investment due diligence of the ceramic machinery industry and its supporting upstream and downstream sectors across Southeast Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and other regions. WONG successfully facilitated the acquisition of 70% of the Italian mold company F.D.S. His efforts helped KEDA strengthen its presence in the European market and boost brand promotion. At the same time, he actively implemented the "Ten Billion Ceramic Machinery" strategy and contributed to the feasibility and economic research for local investments in subsidiary businesses. WONG led the feasibility analysis of the Turkish base project and secured approval for its implementation. This marked the transformation of KEDA's business positioning in the Middle East from a trader to a local manufacturer, enabling better front-end services for local customers. Additionally, WONG led research and market analysis for investments in localized subsidiaries across various global sales areas, successfully establishing KEDA Industrial Group's subsidiary in Indonesia, a key market. Moreover, WONG participated in major asset acquisition and equity capital increase projects for global subsidiaries, ensuring their needs and development plans were met.
In the global building materials sector, WONG contributed to feasibility studies and investment decision-making reports for various projects in Africa and South America, driving their gradual construction and production. WONG also led and participated in internal control and compliance improvements at building materials production bases, enhancing compliance and internal control in finance, sales, procurement, and production departments.
WONG played a key role in both cooperation and integration efforts within the East African market, promoting healthy competition for business products in Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania. He helped stabilize market prices, consolidate Twyford's market share, and enhance brand awareness.
| Safeguarding the Implementation of Major Financing Projects
Mr. Evan ZHANG
Mr. Evan ZHANG
East Africa Financing Manager, Finance Center, Twyford International
From January to August 2024, Mr. Evan ZHANG took measures to address the non-conformities in the Tilemaster-IFC financing project, ultimately ensuring the disbursement of a EUR 200 million loan (RMB 1.54 billion) by IFC.
During this period, with his professional financial expertise and strong teamwork skills, ZHANG identified the balance point for the indicators through multiple rounds of report restoration and financial calculations. He also actively engaged with IFC to clarify and explain the findings. Through collaboration with South Africa's external ESG consultants, he successfully addressed all 26 ESG-related matters involving Twyford Ghana Ceramics and Twyford Tanzania Glass. At the same time, ZHANG traveled to the Senegal ceramics factory, where he was stationed to follow up on 29 issues, including labor rectification, IFC inspections, and external labor audits. Throughout this process, he organized regular meetings with the IFC business and ESG teams, reported progress, and maintained high-frequency, effective communication.
In terms of fund management, ZHANG leveraged his professional skills to address the issue of the rising average daily balance of funds at the KEDA Senegal Ceramics. He swiftly streamlined the foreign exchange purchase process and enhanced management efficiency. Through 18 internal and external improvement measures, he successfully reduced the average daily balance from its peak in May and June, achieving a more than 50% drop by September. This optimization significantly improved the capital structure and the efficiency of capital use.
In terms of cost reduction and efficiency improvement, ZHANG applied meticulous management with unwavering determination, achieving a total cost reduction of over USD 100,000. His efforts spanned various areas: renewing the insurance for Twyford Zambia Ceramics, replacing the natural gas guarantee letter for Twyford Tanzania Glass, securing the guarantee letter for Twyford Kenyan Ceramics' land purchase, and managing the consulting fees for the IFC project’s labor audit. Every detail of these cost-saving measures reflects his wisdom and dedication.
