Oji Holdings CEO visits Mibem: strengthening long-term partnership in West Africa
At the end of March, Mr. Hiroyuki Isono, President and CEO of Oji Holdings Corporation, and Mr. Mikito Terauchi, GM Corporate Planning Division, visited Mibem together with the Oji Europe and IPI teams, marking an important moment of direct engagement with one of IPI’s key customers in West Africa.
During the visit, the delegation toured the production site in Grand Bassam, gaining insight into Mibem’s operations across different packaging solutions, including cans, glass bottles and IPI aseptic carton packaging, covering formats ranging from 250 ml up to 750 ml.
The visit also included meetings with local management and technical teams, as well as presentations of Mibem’s activities and product portfolio, highlighting its strong presence across more than 20 African countries.
Particular attention was given to Oji Holdings’ sustainability strategy, which represents a key pillar of the Group’s long-term vision. This topic generated strong interest from Mibem, opening a constructive dialogue on how to contribute to a more sustainable future for Côte d’Ivoire and the surrounding region.
The presence of top management on site highlights the importance that Oji Holdings places on the aseptic packaging business and maintaining close, long-term relationships with customers in strategic markets.
«Being close to our customers is essential to understand their needs and support their long-term development. This visit confirms our commitment to strengthening partnerships in key regions such as West Africa» said Mr. Hiroyuki Isono.
This attention is also reflected in the Group’s continuous investments supporting IPI’s growth, including the recent announcement of a new production plant in Vietnam, further strengthening Oji’s industrial footprint in the aseptic carton packaging sector.
A long-standing partner in West Africa
Mibem is a well-established producer of wines and spirits in West Africa, with production sites in Côte d’Ivoire and Togo and a strong presence across the region.
Over the years, the collaboration between IPI and Mibem has developed into a solid and structured partnership, built on reliability, continuity, and ongoing technical dialogue.
Proven collaboration, even in complex scenarios
A significant milestone in this partnership was achieved during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Mibem became the first customer to successfully complete a remote installation and start-up of aseptic filling lines supported by IPI.
This project demonstrated not only the effectiveness of IPI’s remote support capabilities, but also the strong level of cooperation and trust between the teams.
Continuous support through Technical Service Agreement
As part of the ongoing Technical Service Agreement, IPI supports Mibem with structured after-sales services, including on-site technical training, preventive maintenance and continuous operational support.
In February, a training session was conducted at the Bassam site (Côte d’Ivoire), involving operators and maintenance personnel.
The program combined theoretical and practical activities, with the objective of strengthening knowledge of machine operations, quality control procedures, and daily maintenance practices.
The training was delivered in multiple sessions to ensure effective knowledge transfer while maintaining production continuity. At the end of the program, participants completed an evaluation test and received certification.
Further sessions are already planned at the Togo site, as part of a broader path aimed at improving operational performance and increasing the autonomy of local teams.
«Our approach goes beyond supplying technology. Through structured service agreements, we support our customers in building competencies, improving performance and achieving greater operational autonomy over time» commented Teppei Saito, Director of IPI.
Looking ahead together
The visit of Mr. Hiroyuki Isono represents a further step in reinforcing the relationship between Oji Holdings, IPI and Mibem, confirming a shared commitment to long-term collaboration and development in the region.
«The long-term cooperation with Mibem reflects our shared focus on reliability, continuous improvement and mutual trust. We will continue to support their growth with both technology and services» added Roberto Serra, Area Sales Manager West Africa at IPI.
«We sincerely thank the Oji Holdings teams for their visit, which testifies the importance and quality of our collaboration. This moment of exchange strengthens a long-standing relationship built on trust, mutual understanding, and high shared standards. We are fully committed to continuing this momentum and are enthusiastic about developing high-performing and sustainable solutions together for our markets»emphasized Grégory Servignat, CEO of Mibem.
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