JOHANNESBURG (AP) -- SABMiller PLC will open a new $125m brewery and soft drinks plant in the oil- and diamond-rich country of Angola, the company said Friday.
The new plant will be opened in the Angolan capital Luanda in October 2009, bringing to five the number of facilities the company has in the southern African country with a joint venture partner.
The company, one of world's the largest brewers, said in a statement that the new plant was being opened to meet the country's growing demand for beverages.
Mark Bowman, managing director for SABMiller Africa said the company was positive about the potential of the market in Angola, which has seen strong economic growth.
"Angola's economy has held up well during the global economic crisis," he said in the statement.
The company has invested about $250 million in upgrading of building new facilities across Angola in 18 months.
The brewery will employ 500 people from the surrounding area. The new soft drinks plant will see production beginning on three bottling lines, capable of producing 200,000hl per year, the statement said.
London-headquartered SABMiller PLC, which owns Grolsch and Peroni Nastro Azzurro lager brands, is listed on the London and Johannesburg stock exchanges.
