Unilever sets aside $20m to expand production<\/p>\n
JAKARTA (JP): Publicly listed consumer products producer PT
\nUnilever Indonesia has allocated $20 million to expand production
\nthis year.<\/p>\n
Company director A.A. Pranatadjaja said here on Thursday that
\nUnilever would expand all of its factories -- five located in
\nCikarang, West Java, and two in Rungkut, East Java -- to meet an
\nincrease in orders from neighboring countries.<\/p>\n
\"We hope the expansion will be able to boost our exports this
\nyear,\" he announced after the company's annual shareholders
\nmeeting. He was reluctant to provide further details.<\/p>\n
The company -- which produces a number of consumer products
\nsuch as Sariwangi tea, Lux and Lifebuoy soap, Magnum Classic,
\nPaddle Pop and Calippo Frost ice cream, Sunsilk shampoo and
\nPepsodent toothpaste -- exports some of its products to
\nSingapore, Malaysia, Thailand and Australia.<\/p>\n
Its exports accounted for 5.3 percent of the company's total
\nsales of Rp 4.87 trillion (US$431 million) last year.<\/p>\n
Pranatadjaja said that Unilever would also use part of the
\nexpansion funds to upgrade its computer network throughout the
\ncountry's factories and branches.<\/p>\n
\"The new facilities will help reduce the company's operating
\ncosts,\" he added.<\/p>\n
According to him, the company's operating costs have been on
\nthe rise due to the hike in fuel prices this year as well as the
\ncontinual depreciation of the rupiah.<\/p>\n
\"Therefore, we're very cautious about projecting our target
\nthis year,\" he said, adding that the company would try to
\nmaintain its performance at the same level as in the first
\nquarter.<\/p>\n
The company's net profit surged 22 percent to Rp 303 billion
\nbetween January and March from the Rp 241 billion in the same
\nperiod last year.<\/p>\n
Unilever's sales rose by 26 percent to Rp 1.48 trillion in the
\nfirst three months of this year from Rp 1.17 trillion in the same
\nperiod last year.<\/p>\n
In the meeting, the shareholders approved the company's
\nproposal to pay a final dividend of Rp 490 per share, bringing
\nthe total dividend paid by the company for the 2000 book year to
\nRp 690 per share.<\/p>\n
The shareholders also endorsed the appointment of Juwono
\nSudarsono, a noted lecturer at the University of Indonesia and
\nformer defense minister, as an independent commissioner in the
\ncompany.<\/p>\n
Alec Lever, former marketing director for personal care at
\nUnilever Philippines, was also appointed as the new director
\nduring the meeting, replacing David John Lewis, who retired in
\nAugust last year.(05)<\/p>",
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"sponsor": "Okusi Associates",
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