Nivea commissions first Indian factory at Sanand.

Personal care company Nivea India Pvt Ltd., an affiliate of German cosmetics major Beiersdorf AG, commissioned the first phase of its first factory in India, at Sanand near this city.

Stefan De Loecker, executive board member at Beiersdorf, and Rakshit Hargave, managing director of Nivea India, said the plant would allow Nivea to make its products more affordable.

'We will be localising a lot of packing material as well,' said Hargave. Of the total investment of €120 million (close to Rs. 850 crore) over three and a half to four years, the factory has seen around 30 per cent spent on the phase commissioned recently. It was inaugurated by Germany's ambassador to this country, Michael Steiner.

In its first phase, the plant's annual capacity is a little over 100 million units, making emulsion products like creams, lotions, shower products and lip care, Hargave said.


BS