Nestle (Thai) will spend Bt1.27 billion to build a new Purina pet-food plant in the Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate and expand its production facilities in the Navanakorn Industrial Estate.

Paul Bulcke, CEO of Swiss-based parent Nestle, and Frits van Dijk, executive vice president for Asia, Oceania, Africa and the Middle East, yesterday confirmed the projects during a visit here.

Bulcke said the Purina factory, planned for the Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate in Chon Buri province, would produce dry pet-food products. The existing Navanakorn facility in Pathum Thani province for milk and coffee products will be expanded.

The plan underlines Nestle's confidence in both Thailand and Indochina.

The Purina factory will cost Bt950 million, feature state-of-the-art processing technology and create 135 new jobs.

The factory will supply dry pet food to domestic and export markets, including South Korea, Taiwan and Hong Kong, as well as fellow ASEAN members Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines.

In addition, Nestle will spend Bt324 million to boost annual production capacity of dry mixed pro-ducts to 40,000 tonnes for supply to both local and export markets.

The expansion of the Navanakorn plant will boost employment there to a total of 519 jobs.