Kraft Foods begins construction of USD 40 million food plant in Bahrain

The ceremony at the Bahrain International Investment Park was officially inaugurated by HE Dr. Hassan Fakhro, Minister of Industry and Commerce and Maurizio Calenti, Group Vice President Kraft Foods and President of Kraft Foods Eastern Europe, Middle East and Africa

The 60,000 square-meter factory, set to be completed in 2007 will produce cheese and powdered beverages to be exported throughout the entire Middle East. The plant will employ 250 to 300 workers and incorporate the latest food manufacturing technologies, quality and safety systems.

Kraft's decision to invest in a new regional factory in Bahrain demonstrates the company's commitment to its consumers in the GCC and the Middle East region as a whole, according to Calenti. "The building of this new facility will enable us to improve production efficiencies so that we can better cater to the needs of our customers," he said.

In recent years, the Bahraini Government has been successful in creating a favorable economic environment to attract foreign investment, explained Patrick Satamian, Managing Director of Kraft Foods GCC, "Bahrain offers an ideal environment in which Kraft can expand, having a central location with good communication links within the GCC and a rapidly developing business sector," he said.