Quest renovates factory

JAKARTA (JP): Quest International, a fragrance, flavors and food-ingredients business headquartered in Nardeen, the Netherlands, has renovated its 25-year-old factory in Cimanggis, West Java, to become its Asia-Pacific base.

The factory, which cost US$12 million to renovate, was dedicated yesterday by Minister of Industry and Trade Tunky Ariwibowo.

The Cimanggis plant is Quest's second largest factory after its plant in Ashford, Britain.

"Quest's vision is that in future the Asia-Pacific will no longer look to Paris or New York for fragrances, but to Jakarta," said the president of Quest International Asia Pacific, Ara Moushigian.

The factory's annual production is expected to reach 10,000 tons within five years. Its products are to be marketed in Indonesia and other Asia-Pacific countries.

Viktor Rensing, Quest International's president, said the firm initially chose Singapore as its Asia-Pacific base but later changed its plan in favor of Indonesia, which is rich in raw materials and has a huge market.

"I believe the Cimanggis production center will produce high quality products, which are not only beneficial to consumers but will also help increase Indonesia's exports," he said.

The firm has offices in 40 countries, generating a total revenue of $1.5 billion each year. (jsk)