Economy
Belgian quick fix for farmers and soil
By Fu Jing (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-04-04 14:49
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Father's word
Born in 1970, Abergel came from a family of well-known businessmen. His father moved from Morocco to Belgium in 1960, and established himself as a leading light in the Antwerp diamond industry. Abergel learnt the first lessons of business from his father when he was made to understand that in the diamond trade, "word means contract".
"I was taught to be a man of my words. That simple creed is what has kept me going even now," says Abergel.
Despite his father's standing in the diamond industry, Abergel decided to strike a different path in business. He graduated from the Paris IX Dauphine University with a management degree and decided to gain work experience at a Belgium chemical company. Thus began his long association with the chemicals industry.
Abergel came into the chemical world in 1993 through a participation in a trading company handling petrochemicals in which his father has investment. When he got his university degree his father asked him to join one of the companies he had invested in.
From 1993 to 1999 they were trading glycols and solvents. In 1999 he decided jointly with business partners to build up a stronger structure based on distribution and assets. In the beginning he used the family's funding to build up the business. And through the years other people joined and also raised some funds on the Belgium stock market.
In 1999, Abergel set up Arpadis Group, which holds controlling stakes in all the group companies. In the same year, his company Arpadis Chemicals started chemical product distribution in Antwerp. From chemicals he next branched out into the polyurethane industry by setting up Arpadis Polyurethanes SA for selling and supplying raw materials.
The Arpadis Group currently has 20 companies under its wings in diversified businesses and they are based in the countries like France, UK, US, China. It has special focus on African and Middle East markets and invested in Morocco, Algeria, Egypt, Jordan and Dubai
In 2006, the turnover of the group was 44.6 million euros, and by 2008 it had risen to 120 million euros. The period between 2008 and 2010 was not so good for Arpadis and like several other European companies, it too bore the brunt of the global financial crisis.
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Despite the troubled times, Abergel says Arpadis remained committed to its various businesses and continued with its investments as it was convinced of making good returns in the long term.
Abergel says he is currently looking for a Chinese partner to operate a chemical plant set up by Arpadis in the Nanjing chemical industry zone in East China's Jiangsu province. "The facility has been set up with European standards and is spread over two hectares. We have invested nearly 5 million euros, and it has a lifespan of over 50 years. We are committed for the long run," he says.
Abergel also says investment opportunities in his group are open to Chinese partners. "I hope there is Chinese very soon to sit on board of my group," he says. For a multinational, his understanding is that nowadays, only if there is a Chinese member on the board can that company be global. "That's my definition of multinational in a changing world," he says.
He is not only investing in China but also loves to work with Chinese. In one of his trading companies in Antwerp, there are up to 10 overseas Chinese working with him.
Family and hobby
Abergel is married, with three children (Jonathan, Elsa & Julia) and interested in soccer, playing tennis and jogging.
And for him, keeping time is as important as keeping words. Abergel has been keen on collecting SWATCH watches. On the wall of his office in Antwerp, nearly 200 watches are framed together and showed there. "This is my hobby and I collect it every time when there is a new model of the brand," says Abergel.
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