Mondelēz International, the global snacks powerhouse with iconic brands such as Oreo biscuits and Cadbury chocolate, today announced the production of its one billionth unit at its cheese and powdered-beverage plant in Bahrain.

The plant opened in late 2007. Mondelēz was previously known as "Kraft".

Mondelēz celebrated the milestone with an event at its site in the Bahrain International Investment Park (BIIP) at Salman Industrial City, under the patronage and in the presence of Bahrain's Industry & Commerce Minister Dr Hassan Fakhro. Thomas Krajeski, US Ambassador; Vishal Tikku, vice president and area director Middle East of Mondelēz; Terry Denton, Mondelēz Bahrain plant director and a number of businessmen, investors and ministry officials were also present.

The minister congratulated the company for the outstanding achievement and said Mondelēz International has since its start surpassed all of the commitments it made to investment and employment targets.

He added Mondelēz has had a strong and positive influence on the decision making process of many of the foreign companies who have chosen to locate in Bahrain.

The plant, which can produce as many as 650,000 units of cheese and Tang product units per day, is home to a 250-strong skilled labor force, with the creation of more jobs a possibility in the near future. The plant, which exports across the Middle East and Africa region, contributes approximately $50 million per year to the Bahraini economy through wages, raw- and packaging-material supplies, and shipping and distribution operations.

Approximately 27 per cent of the labour force are Bahraini nationals, with a view to increasing this to 35pc over the next two years, a statement said.

Vishal Tikku said: “Over the last six years, we’ve exported premium-quality products from this Manama facility to more than 20 countries worldwide. As the world's biggest snacks company, with strong origins in the Middle East dating back nearly 100 years, we are delighted to have hit this milestone in Bahrain and to be contributing to the local economy in the way that we do.” - TradeArabia News Service