Nestle opens UHT milk plant in Kurunegala

Indunil HEWAGE

Marking the third phase of Nestle Lanka Plc's Rs 10 billion investment commitment to Sri Lanka, the company opened its new cutting edge ultra heat treatment (UHT) milk plant yesterday at its state- of- the- art manufacturing facility in Kurunegala in the presence of Economic Development Minister Basil Rajapaksa and other dignitaries.

Last year Nestle announced that it will invest Rs 10 billion in Sri Lanka over a period of five years commencing 2011.The opening of the plant took place as a part of it vigorous investment plan in Sri Lanka and this is the second investment this year.

The new plant is an extension of Nestle Lanka's current processing facilities and together with their malt beverages plant in 2011 and noodle plant opened early this year , accounts for almost Rs 3 billion of their total commitment of Rs 10 billion.

Nestle makes its commitment for the well being of the local farming community and it is the largest private sector fresh milk collector in Sri Lanka. Currently, over 15,000 farmers are involved with Nestle.In 2009, Nestle embarked in new project with a view to developing the local dairy industry and special focus has also been given to uplift the farming community in the North and East. Being a global company, Nestle has been in Sri Lanka for more than 100 years and accounts for a large number of milk collection points and chilling centres across the island.

Speaking at the plant opening ceremony , Nandu Nandkishore Executive Vice President for S.A. and Zone Director for Asia, Oceania, Africa and Middle East said ' I'm happy to see Nestle's continuous commitment for the development of Sri Lanka and the plant opened today will provide more job opportunities and income generation for local communities. Even though Nestle is a global company.

Ambassador of Switzerland in Sri Lanka Thomas Litscher said that Switzerland businesses rooted in Sri Lanka see immense potential and opportunities in the post war period and many Swiss investors are on the look out to explore more business opportunities in Sri Lanka.