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Nestle opens AED 500 million factory in Dubai


Harriet Sinclair, December 14th, 2010

Nestlé has officially opened its AED 500 million (US $136 million) manufacturing facility in Dubai TechnoPark, the third stage in its Middle East expansion plans.

The facility is Nestlé’s first confectionary factory to open in a decade, and will act as the company’s regional headquarters — following the opening of the first two phases of expansion in the region; the repackaging factory (operational for 18 months) and the water factory (operational for four months).

Paul Bulcke, Nestlé S.A chief executive officer, said that 35% of the company’s global turnover came from emerging markets, a figure expected to grow in coming years, and that the Middle East contributed $1.5 billion to the group’s turnover last year.

“We have invested more than close to 500 m us in this region since its formal inception as Nestlé Middle East in 1997. These capital investments have contributed heavily to creating local jobs, enhancing technological and manufacturing capabilities and fostering national economies around this region,” he said.