Nestlé has inaugurated a production unit for its range of Nido fortified powdered milk in Douala, Cameroon.
The new facility will create 12 additional jobs and has the potential to create 48 more in the coming years.
It will have an annual production capacity of more than 5,500 tons and will manufacture Nido Forti Choco as well as continue to package Nido powdered milk.
Nestlé said the production is intended for both the domestic market as well as for export to Gabon, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo and Equatorial Guinea.
Launched in 2016 in Cameroon, Nido Forti Choco is made from milk powder, cocoa, and sugar. It is enriched with essential micronutrients such as iron, zinc, and calcium.
Nestlé Cameroon country manager Thomas Caso said: “Nestlé has been improving the quality of life and contributing to a healthier future for the Cameroonian population for more than 50 years. As evidenced by this investment, we believe in the socio-economic development of the country and we want to continue to be a key partner in the growth of the local agro-industry.
“We will continue to explore with our partners and the relevant authorities ways to increase our local production and local sourcing of raw materials and packaging materials.”
Ernest Gwaboubou, Cameroon minister for mines, industry and technological development, said: “This event demonstrates a strong public-private partnership within the context of industrialization of Cameroon, which will create employment and foster economic development.”
Nestlé has been present in Cameroon since 1965 and started local production in 1981. The company employs more than 450 people in the country.
