DAVIES LAUNCHES ANOTHER MULTI MILLION RAND INVESTMENT BY UNILEVER

DAVIES LAUNCHES ANOTHER MULTI MILLION RAND INVESTMENT BY UNILEVER

A multi-million rand factory was launched by the Minister of Trade and Industry, Dr Rob Davies in Boksburg today. The Khanyisa household care products plant which, is one of the four manufacturing plants in South Africa by Unilever is the company’s largest investment globally worth about R1.4 billion.

Speaking at the launch, Minister Davies said this investment was one of a few that Unilever had made in the country and this showed the confidence that the company has in South Africa and in Africa as a whole. According to Davies, Unilever had benefitted from the Department of Trade and Industry’s (the dti) 12i Tax Allowance Incentive scheme, with a qualifying investment value of R1.2 billion, an investment allowance of R350 million, as well as a training allowance of R7 million for the Khanyisa plant.

He said in total Unilever had invested about R40 billion in manufacturing plants in the country and had received nearly R1 981 billion incentives from the dti.

“Other investments include the Maydon Wharf soap and detergents, cleaning and polishing preparations, perfumes and toilet preparations factory, the Indonsa foods production plant factory as well as the Southpole plant which produces ice cream,” he added.

Davies highlighted that these investments had created about 1000 jobs altogether and this was an indication that the incentives into these investments were paying off.

“It is more than that we have offered tax incentives but that we have actively worked together with Unilever on this. We would like local agricultural manufacturers to start benefiting from these investments by being suppliers, for plants like Idonsa factory,” he said.

The Global Chief Executive Officer of Unilever Mr Paul Polman said such plants signify growth for the company and hope for the people as they create jobs. He added that the company had experienced a lot of growth in the emerging markets which count for 60% of the global market. He highlighted that all these investments in terms of factories in South Africa would not have been possible if it was not of the help ofthe dti. 

“I would like to thank Minister Davies together with the department for all their efforts because cooperation is needed at all levels of these investments,” he added.

The British High Commissioner Ms Judith Macgregor said investments such as these contribute to the increased trade relations between South Africa and Britain. She said it was important to increase cooperation in areas of skills development and job creation and that a lot of work was already being done in those areas.

Caption: Minister Rob Davies, Mr Paul Polman, High Commissioner Judith Macgregor and officials opening the plague for the new Khanyisa factory in Boksburg