MASA Establishment for Pest Extermination, Maintenance and Contracting, which recently marked its 30th anniversary, has announced ambitious plans to expand its horizons not just within Saudi Arabia but to reach across the entire Gulf region.

The Riyadh-based company, which has 11 branches spread throughout Saudi Arabia, intends to launch outlets both in and outside the kingdom, particularly in the UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Bahrain. In Saudi Arabia, Masa aims to widen its business scope by exploring areas such as Hafr Al Batin, Hail, Yanbu, Taif and Al Baha.

Commenting on the growth of the company, owner and general manager Mousaied Al Shieshakly says Masa found itself moving forward rapidly into unchartered territory when it launched operations in the kingdom in 1980.

Entrepreneurship and innovativeness have been the hallmarks of its growth strategy. The pioneering pest control specialist has been constantly devising new ways of doing business in the pest control industry, with new techniques and processes, enabling selection, screening and placement of suitable pesticides that ensure maximum safety. It has kept pace with the latest technology in pest control with the help of its resident entomologists whose research initiatives have put the company on par with leading organisations in this field, says Al Shieshakly.

A recent example is the new-generation termiticide known as Imidacloprid that Masa imports from the biggest manufacturer from India – Krishi Rasayan – to keep up with the latest trends in termite control. “At present, we are registering 15 chemicals for use in our operations, as well as for selling and marketing, that conform to the regulations of Saudi Arabian Standards Organisation (Saso),” adds Al Shieshakly.

Shieshakly ... eyeing a wider market.

“Quality, combined with advanced techniques, has helped Masa maintain high standards of service to its customers. And not surprisingly, it was the first pest control company in Saudi Arabia and in the Middle East to acquire ISO certification by SGS International Certification Services.

“We produce quality products by importing 85 per cent of our operational requirements from internationally known companies such as B&G Equipment Company, Curtis Dyna, and J T Eaton, all from the US. Our aluminium phosphide for fumigation services comes from UPL of India,” he adds.

To keep abreast with the latest developments in pest control management, the company regularly participates in various symposiums organised by international organisations such as National Pest Management Association, Dyna Fog Company, JT Eaton, FMC Chemicals, and the Purdue University.

Masa is also an active participant at exhibitions – which include at least nine such events held annually in Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam – where its entomological staff, agricultural engineers and pest control experts present demonstrations on pest infestations, the damage caused and prevention and care.

Its expansion programme has included the creation of a quality assurance department, headed by a national quality manager whose role is to implement and maintain a appropriate and strict quality assurance system to ensure the efficiency and effectiveness of its services particularly with regard to equipment and safe handling of pesticides.

Masa has a research and development department headed by resident entomologists engaged in continuous research in chemicals and the development of equipment as well as on integrated pest management. This has greatly influenced advancements in procedures such as management and processing; chemical methods such as insecticide, rodenticide and termiticide; and mechanical methods such as those using insect nets; and vacuum and biological methods which include use of wasps or microbial organisms for controlling pests.

Masa has diversified its activities to include cleaning, landscaping as well as consultation services and certification seminars for food services under the coordination and licence of the American Institute of Baking Certification (AIB) in the US.

Shieshakly’s efforts of 20 years to broaden the understanding of pest management bore fruit when the Saudi Arabian Pest Management Association (Sapma) was set up by Saudi Aramco. The association, which is open for membership to individuals, companies, organisations or other business enterprises actively engaged in the pest management industry, aims to promote awareness and acceptance of pest management.

Masa is also acquiring additional manpower from the Philippines, Pakistan, India, Sudan, Sri Lanka and Nepal, with applicants screened thoroughly based on their experience in the field, expertise and education. The selected applicants will then be job-trained by competent trainers from Masa’s operations department before they are assigned to their respective branches. This is also in conformance with the guidelines being formulated by the new Sapma, which aims to streamline the pest control business in Saudi Arabia.

Masa is a fast-growing company that is committed to providing quality services that meet customer requirements and satisfaction. Due to a mushrooming of pest control operators in the kingdom, Masa believes it needs to play a leadership role in the industry and educate the public regarding the actual versus the perceived risk associated with pesticide applications and the importance of noting labels, directions and proper application procedures with a focus on environmental awareness.

According to Shieshakly, the scope of the pest control industry in Saudi Arabia should be broadened to highlight the importance of understanding and accepting the need for pest management “as indispensable for the health, safety, comfort, and convenience of the public.

“The focus also should be on consumer protection through consumer awareness and uniting all pest control operators in the kingdom in order to standardise pest control practices, to earn recognition and the respect that they deserve,” he says.

He calls for stricter laws on the licensing of pest control companies, which could be jointly be controlled by Sapma and the government.

Shieshakly believes that Saudi Arabia should aim towards self-sufficiency in quality pest control chemicals and equipment and also be able to compete in the international market in terms of quality service and price.

He also seeks government support to ban the import and use of methyl bromide, which has a detrimental effect on the environment, and to restrict selling pest control chemicals over the counter to protect the end-users from the associated hazards.

The company has a long list of clients, to many of which it has provided termite-proofing and pest control services. The list includes the Royal Commission of Jubail, Rehabilitation Society of King Fahad, King Abdulaziz International School, Al Naghi Brothers Company, Al Yamama Company, McDonalds, Al Azizia Panda United, Oriental Shipping Company, Al Hugayet Trading and Contracting Company, Nabisco Arabia, Arasco Camp, Saudi Binladin, American British Ventures Rock Group (ABV), Aramco, Saudi Arabian Basic Industries Corporation (Sabic) and Pepsi Cola Bottling Company, to name a few.

In its 30 years of business, Masa has received recognition as the regional representative of the German Pest Control Association in the Middle East at the Eurocido, an international congress and trade fair for crop control, in 1998 and 2000; the Middle East regional representative for the second International Conference on Insect Pest in the Urban Environment (ICUP) in Edinburgh, Scotland, 1996 and the third ICUP in Prague, Czech Republic in 1999.

Masa was nominated as representative for Saudi Arabia by the first International Congress of Chemical and Biological Medical Treatment, Cairo, Egypt and regional representative in the Middle East for National Pest Control Association of America for pest management in 1999.

Apart from its ISO-9002 certification, it also earned recognition for being the ‘Outstanding Distributor in the Middle East’ for 2000 to 2002 for Curtis Dyna-Fog, a US manufacturer of foggers, misting and ULV (ultra-low voltage) machines.