Nippon Paint supplies innovative paint and coating solutions to numerous nations and regions worldwide and is now proudly recognised as the largest paint brand in Asia Pacific. We apply a fresh coat and delve deeper into the company’s success with Wee Siew Kim, Director, Representative Executive Officer, and co-President of Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd and Group CEO of NIPSEA Group.
PAINTING A NEW LEGACY
As a continent, Asia is experiencing rapid urbanisation, rising GDP per capita, and an expanding middle class, all of which drive demand for paint and coatings.
In markets such as Indonesia and China where the economies and urbanisation are accelerating, paint demand is set to keep rising. These countries represent significant growth opportunities as they undergo rapid infrastructure development and become subsequently wealthier.
Capitalising on this current industry upswing is Nippon Paint, a global industry leader working towards a sustainable future through customer-centric growth focused on enriching the world through the power of science and imagination.
“Despite significant current global economic fractures, the paint and coatings industry in Asia is incredibly exciting right now, and I believe it offers immense potential for growth,” introduces Wee Siew Kim, Director, Representative Executive Officer, and co-President of Nippon Paint Holdings Co., Ltd and Group CEO of NIPSEA Group.
In terms of broader industry trends, one of the key developments is the rapid move towards sustainability and eco-friendly solutions. Consumers, especially in Asia, are becoming increasingly aware of the environmental impact of their choices, which is driving demand for more sustainable and lower volatility organic compound (VOC) coatings.
Nippon Paint is fully embracing this shift, ensuring that its product range aligns with the growing demand for sustainable solutions.
“Today, the coatings industry in Asia is vibrant, full of potential, and rapidly evolving, which makes it an exciting time to be working in this space – more so for Nippon Paint as I believe we are culturally and organisationally well-positioned to enrich a larger share of the value pool,” he sets out.
EXPANSION OF THE BRAND
Having worked tirelessly to establish itself across a plethora of geographies, Nippon Paint now enjoys an impressive presence across 48 countries and regions throughout Asia, Europe, and the US.
“Our product offerings are as diverse as the markets we serve. From decorative paints that brighten homes and businesses to automotive coatings that enhance the appearance of vehicles, we provide high-quality solutions that meet a wide range of needs,” Wee prides.
Meanwhile, the company also specialises in industrial and marine coatings, ensuring durability and protection in some of the toughest environments.
In addition, its ‘Paint++’ approach extends to adjacent areas like sealants, adhesives, and fillers (SAF), external thermal insulation composite systems (ETICS), and construction chemicals (CC), providing a comprehensive suite of products for every project.
“NIPSEA Group’s success is built on its leadership in decorative paints, where we proudly hold the number one market share in six countries – China, Singapore, Malaysia, Sri Lanka, Turkey, and Kazakhstan,” he acclaims.
As of December 2024, Nippon Paint Group employs over 46,000 people worldwide. Its dedicated and talented team is what drives the company forwards as it continues to innovate and expand, delivering world-class coating solutions to customers across the globe.
“With our diverse product range, strong brand presence, and commitment to excellence, the company is truly poised to take on the challenges the future will surely bring.”
Furthermore, Nippon Paint is now one of the most recognised names in the industry, consistently ranked amongst the ‘Top 10 Most Valuable Paint Brands in the World’ by Brand Finance for four years running.
This recognition speaks to a commitment to quality and innovation and the trust customers have in Nippon Paint.
“Today, the coatings industry in Asia is vibrant, full of potential, and rapidly evolving, which makes it an exciting time to be working in this space”
Wee Siew Kim, Director, Representative Executive Officer and Co-President, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., LTD AND Group CEO, NIPSEA Group
COLOURING LIVES
Since its inception, Nippon Paint has been dedicated to creating innovative solutions that bring colours and joy to people’s everyday lives.
“As part of our commitment to sustainable development, the company strives to support and promote the well-being of communities through our business activities,” Wee explains.
To achieve this, the company has established three priority areas of focus encompassing education, empowerment, and engagement.
The education pillar focuses on providing access to learning for children and youths through an art and colour educational programme, whilst the empowerment pillar supports activities and vocational training for socially vulnerable people.
Additionally, Nippon Paint works with non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local communities under the engagement pillar to provide disaster support and improve cultural preservation.
A particular point of pride for the company is the N’Shakti initiative in Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, India, which has trained over 1,100 unskilled rural women in professional painting skills, giving them not only a livelihood but also the opportunity to become small paint dealership owners in the future.
“By connecting these trained painters with potential clients and supporting them through a membership app and digital marketing, we provide them with a sustainable pathway to long-term empowerment,” Wee adds.
“Meanwhile, our support for fishing communities in Kuala Penat, East Lampung in Indonesia has seen us donate paints to coat and protect their fishing boats – supporting their livelihoods, benefitting their families and community, and transforming them into vibrant expressions of local identity and pride.”
Nippon Paint’s commitment to ‘Colouring Lives’ has already made a meaningful difference in the shape of 84 varying corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiatives, impacting the lives of more than 28 million people worldwide.
“Together, these efforts reflect not just our responsibility as a company, but our belief in using the power of colour and innovation to create lasting, positive impact,” Wee elaborates.
INNOVATION AT THE CORE
Nippon Paint is committed to delivering high-quality coatings solutions across a wide range of industries, from automotive and construction to industrial and decorative applications.
“Our extensive product portfolio includes interior and exterior paints, functional coatings, and speciality products designed to meet the diverse needs of our clients. We take pride in our ability to provide durable, innovative solutions that enhance both the aesthetics and functionality of the environments in which they are applied,” Wee explains.
As such, innovation is at the core of the company’s approach to creating value for customers.
“Our innovation strategy is built around three pillars – building an adaptive organisation, developing core enabling technology competency, and expanding into adjacencies and emerging markets.
“These pillars drive our efforts to introduce cutting-edge solutions to the coatings industry, enabling us to be part of the frontier of coating advancements,” he passions.
“With our diverse product range, strong brand presence, and commitment to excellence, the company is truly poised to take on the challenges the future will surely bring”
Wee Siew Kim, Director, Representative Executive Officer and Co-President, Nippon Paint Holdings Co., LTD AND Group CEO, NIPSEA Group
PRIDE OF THE WORLD EXPO
One of the most recent highlights for the company is its partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board for Expo 2025 in Osaka, Japan.
“We are honoured to have contributed our coatings for both the interior and exterior of the Singapore Pavilion, helping to bring the nation’s vision to life at this global event.
“Developing, supplying, and applying five shades of red, we brought to life the rich hue of the Little Red Dot pavilion of Singapore. In addition, we supplied our specialised Target Line Paint for the electric autonomous bus transportation service at Expo 2025, further showcasing our expertise in cutting-edge technologies,” Wee expands.
Target Line Paint, a prime example of its product innovation, is designed to be detected by lidar sensors installed in autonomous vehicles. When applied to roadways, it enables the sensors to follow painted lines, ensuring accurate and stable autonomous navigation.
This technology was applied to three autonomous bus routes at the Osaka Expo 2025, helping transport visitors safely throughout the event.
Showcasing at Expo 2025 underscores Nippon Paint’s commitment to providing sustainable, innovative solutions that make a tangible impact on high-profile projects, reinforcing the brand’s leadership in the coatings industry.
BEIJING DAXING INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT
Another one of the company’s most significant collaborations was with Beijing Daxing International Airport in 2019, an iconic and expansive facility known for its striking starfish-like design, created by the renowned Zaha Hadid Architects.
“We are proud to have contributed our specialised coatings to the hangar and maintenance docking areas of this groundbreaking airport.
“Our solutions offer exceptional protection and durability to both airport staff and consumers, ensuring that the airport’s complex infrastructure not only stands up to the heavy demands of aircraft maintenance and repair operations, but also provides enhanced fire safety during emergencies,” details Wee.
This collaboration highlights Nippon Paint’s expertise in providing robust, high-quality coatings for large-scale, high-traffic environments and reinforces the brand’s commitment to supporting global infrastructure projects with cutting-edge technology and sustainable solutions.
Nippon Paint has a whole litany of innovations in the architectural, industrial, automotive, and marine segments.
“Throughout the years, our presence at World Expos and our work with Beijing Daxing International Airport stand out as iconic achievements that will stand the test of time,” he adds.
PROMOTING A CULTURE OF GROWTH
The sustainable growth experienced by Nippon Paint is rooted in its customer-centric approach and the unwavering commitment of its people, who are dedicated to achieving excellence across every facet of the business.
A major driver behind this mindset is its ‘lean for growth’ culture, which fosters collaboration and sharing best practices, knowledge, and experiences across all teams.
This focus on leanness creates an environment that allows the company to remain adaptable and able to continuously evolve with market demands.
Regarding its people as its most valuable asset, Nippon Paint is also committed to creating an environment where every employee can unleash their potential and receive appropriate recognition for their contributions.
“We strive to continually remind ourselves of our early entrepreneurial days – the traits that set us apart – and to balance their preservation even as we grow, adjusting to the increasing diversity of cultures in our mix,” Wee pronounces.
As a business with global operations, the management team in each region demonstrates leadership under an autonomous and decentralised approach, respecting the diverse values and strengths of its employees.
“To further support employee growth and encourage willingness to take on new challenges, we promote a range of talent development and career support initiatives, including strengthened global talent management programmes and the development of female leaders,” he continues.
ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS
Nippon Paint aims to achieve net zero for Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions by 2060.
For Scope 3, Nippon Paint calculates emissions for the majority of group companies, further strengthening its response to climate change. In addition, NIPSEA Group aims to reduce energy consumption by eight percent in 2025 compared to 2021 levels.
For example, in China, NIPSEA Group is actively promoting the transition to renewable energy sources. By the end of 2023, solar photovoltaic (PV) panels had been installed at 19 factories, generating a total of 12.73 million kilowatt hours annually.
Through these efforts, NIPSEA Group aims to gradually incorporate alternative sources of energy into its facilities. The installation of solar PV panels is also being expanded to additional factories in China from 2024 onwards.
In addition, NIPSEA Group has installed solar PV panels in Singapore and undertaken initiatives such as replacing incandescent lamps with high-efficiency LED lighting in Vietnam.
In Japan, Nippon Paint is working to reduce its Scope 3 emissions by purchasing renewable electricity through an off-site solar power purchase agreement (PPA).
Meanwhile, as part of its water resource management efforts, the company’s Shanghai factory in China successfully minimised wastewater discharge and met quality assurance requirements for water production conductivity through a water purification system modification project.
“As a result, the factory achieved a 90 percent reduction in wastewater discharge, with 80 percent of treated water now finding its way back into production processes and 10 percent allocated for fire-fighting reserves,” Wee informs us.
A LEGACY TO BE CELEBRATED
As Nippon Paint celebrates 140 years of global success, 2025 holds even greater significance as it marks the 60th anniversary of its key partner, NIPSEA Group, establishing its first manufacturing plant in Singapore – an event that fittingly coincides with the nation’s 60th year of independence.
“It’s a milestone that fills us with immense pride, as it symbolises not only our growth but also our deep connection to Singapore’s transformation over the decades,” Wee confirms.
This shared history of growth, innovation, and legacy is a reflection of how far the company has come, initially playing its part in Singapore’s new landscape before subsequently springboarding from the tiny island country to the rest of Asia and beyond.
“We take great pride in having contributed to Singapore’s iconic landmarks, safeguarding buildings against the elements, and helping turn houses into homes with our high-quality coatings.”
Now, as Wee reflects on the entire journey, he is reminded of the lasting impact NIPSEA Group has had and will continue to enjoy.
“This legacy is something we carry with us as we move forwards, celebrating both our achievements and the bright future ahead,” he finishes joyfully.
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