Industrial giant Unilever Ghana Limited has inaugurated a 4.4 million Euro factory and amenities block for its employees.

The factory, which is expected to offer 1,000 indirect jobs to Ghanaians, has the capacity to produce 40, 000 tonnes of products per annum.

Some brands expected to be produced in the new factory, which is the first of its kind in Africa, includes Lux, Lifebuoy, Rexona and Giesha.

The new block for staff comprises 436 changing rooms for both male and female staff, 50 shower rooms, 40 toilets, a laundry, an ultra-modern gym and vitality centre, a new car parking for about 40 cars and a refurbished store to sell Unilever products to employees.

Speaking at the inauguration ceremony held at the factory in Tema, Paul Polman, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Unilever PLC, who inaugurated the projects, noted that with the introduction of the new factory and modern equipment, production cost is expected to reduce by 10 percent.

He explained that “the factory will be a hub to supply semi-finished goods to Nigeria and finished products to Francophone West African countries, which will go a long way to boost the export in Ghana.”

According to him, the projects were executed to improve the health and wellbeing of employees, and also create jobs for Ghanaians.

The CEO of Unilever Plc was optimistic the new factory would also boost the country’s economy and improve the quality of products and customer services.

Major Dr. Mustapha Ahmed, Acting Minister of Trade and Industry, commended Unilever for the initiative, saying government appreciate the company’s quest to create single value added production chain.

He reiterated government’s commitment to develop a vibrant private sector to accelerate the development of the country.

“The company increasingly diversified from being a maker of products made of oil and fats and expanded its operations worldwide.”

The Acting Trade Minister hinted that his outfit was developing a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) policy for the country to boost health, the environment and livelihood, which fall in line with the objectives of the CSR policy.

Nii Adjei Kraku II, the Tema Mantse, Titus Glover, Member of Parliament (MP) for Tema East, Hans Doctor, Dutch Ambassador to Ghana, among others, were in attendance.