Global FMCG giant Unilever has begun construction of a new $272 million (AED1 billion) plant in Dubai Industrial City, scheduled for opening in mid-2016, it has been reported.
The investment is being put up by the Anglo-Dutch firm as well as its regional suppliers, Gulf News reported. The new facility is expected to generate up to 400 jobs.
“Our new facility is a key component to achieving our vision of doubling the size of our business while halving our environmental footprint,” Sanjiv Kakkar – Executive Vice-President, Unilever Mena, Turkey, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus – was reported as saying.
The new plant will be Unilever’s second in the UAE, with the first one being located in Jebel Ali. Dubai Industrial City was selected as the location because it allows duty-free imports of machinery and tariff-free access to the GCC and MENA markets, it was reported.
As with the factory in Jebel Ali, which is used for Unilever’s Lipton tea brand, the new plant will not send any waste to the landfill.