KUALA LUMPUR: George Kent (Malaysia) Bhd's subsidiary George Kent International Pte Ltd (GKI) has invested up to US$532,000 (about RM2.46 million) for its share of 70 per cent capital in George Kent (Vietnam) Co Ltd (GK Vietnam). 

The new subsidiary, formed under a shareholders' agreement operating on a 70:30 contributed capital ratio, underscores George Kent's commitment to fostering local partnerships for mutual growth. 

"GK Vietnam will be headquartered at Thoi Hoa Industrial Park, Thoi Hoa Ward, Ben Cat Town, Binh Duong Province, Vietnam," it said in a statement.

GK Vietnam is a partnership between GKI, based in Singapore, and one Pham Nguyen Hoang, a renowned Vietnamese entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in the metering distribution business. 

George Kent said the strategic collaboration marks an important milestone in the company's commitment to advancing water infrastructure and smart metering solutions on a global scale. 

With a rich history rooted in water metering and engineering excellence, George Kent said it had consistently demonstrated its prowess not only in the metering business but also in water infrastructure, rail transportation and hospital construction sectors. 

"The primary focus of GK Vietnam will be the assembly of the George Kent brand of water meters, renowned for their precision and reliability as well as George Kent's proprietary automated meter reading system – 'SisBa' which has gained significant traction among water authorities in Vietnam. 

"The subsidiary's operations will align seamlessly with George Kent's longstanding commitment to international standards," it added.