Under the Radar: From a mirror glass producer in the 1600s to a leader in building materials – Saint-Gobain Singapore & Malaysia’s CEO sheds light on the importance of the two markets and the firm’s strategic priorities for the future.
Description
From a mirror glass producer into one of the world’s most enduring industrial giants. Today we’re going to take you through the ins and outs of French multinational corporation Saint-Gobain.
The founding of Saint-Gobain takes us all the way back to 1665, when Louis XIV (the 14th) founded the Royal Mirror Glass Factory, and granted the financier Nicolas Dunoyer and his associates an exclusive privilege to manufacture “mirror glass”.
The goal was to undermine the supremacy of the Republic of Venice in the European mirror market.
Decades later, The Royal Mirror Glass Factory and its competitor, the Thevart Company merged in the 1690s, and the enlarged entity eventually became the modern day Saint-Gobain.
Fast forward to the present, Saint-Gobain designs, manufactures, and distributes materials and solutions for the construction, mobility and industrial markets. Some of its portfolio products include insulation, roofing and yes, glass.
With a presence in 80 countries with more than 161,000 employees, the company aims to be a world leader in light and sustainable construction.
And in Singapore, you can see the firm’s products used in some of its most beloved attractions, from Marina Bay Sands, Gardens by the Bay, Bird Paradise, Rainforest Wild Asia and more. But what should we know about Saint-Gobain’s operations right here in Singapore?
Meanwhile, the firm had in July 2025, reported record high operating income of 2.803 billion euros, up 5 per cent in local currency terms. Notably, Asia Pacific delivered robust organic growth, driven by strong momentum in India and Southeast Asia.
So what are some growth trends that the company hopes to tap on, and how far will operations in Singapore and Malaysia help the company bolster its financial performance in the region amid a slowing economy in China?
On Under the Radar, Money Matters’ finance presenter Chua Tian Tian posed these questions to Lynette Siow, CEO, Saint-Gobain Singapore & Malaysia.
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