The Daily Nation Smart Company Date: 01.04.2014 Page 11 Article size: 173 cm2 ColumnCM: 38.44 AVE: 83039.99 Firm to set up Sh8.5bn plant in Sultan Hamud AN ALUMINIUM COMPANY will set up a Sh8.5 billion manufacturing plant at Sultan velopment blueprint that has identified set ting up of industries as the pillar for wealth Hamud. and job creation. "We mark our entry into Kenya as a way GZ Industries seeks to cash in on the growing use of aluminium cans for packag ing beverages in the country. The company, which has roots in Nigeria, expects to start supplying products to the local market in early 2015. The plant will produce 1.2 billion cans a year. GZI's chief executive officer, Mr Motti Goldmintz, said the plant would supply the growing East Africa market. "The decision to invest in an alumini um can line follows a significant upturn in Kenya's canned beverages market during the past two years and continuous demand from Kenya. Total annual production of so das in the Kenyan market is reaching new highs, with a record 3714 million litres in 2011," he said. Aluminium can packaging has also been growing in the beer market as imported canned beer and soft drinks have become the favourites of upmarket buyers. Kenya leads the other East African coun tries in the beer market with production of 2.8 million hectolitres (hi). Mr Goldmintz said the setting up of the plant is fuelled by the demand from their customers. Besides, he added, the project is in line with Kenya's Vision 2030, a de of contributing to the growth of the manu facturing sector. Besides developing the economy, we hope to bring a new face to Sultan Hamud and its more than 20,000 residents,1' Mr Goldmintz said. He, however, said manufacturing alu minium cans is highly technical and needs special skills, which are lacking in Kenya, This means that expatriates will play a key role in setting up the plant. Cut Import costs However, the firm said local people will be trained to enable them take over the run ning of the plant. The country imports cans used in packag ing beers and soft drinks and the new plant will help cut the import costs in Kenya and East Africa. The manufacturing of cans is also expected to spur the export of Ken yanmade beers. The trade is currently hampered by the use of bottles, which are bulky and prone to breakages. The plant will also explore other new products with the objective of expand ing its local and regional market. The firm is targeting Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and Burundi. Ipsos Kenya Acorn House,97 James Gichuru Road Lavington Nairobi Kenya