Unilever has announced plans to open its first deodorant manufacturing facility in Asia. The new plant will be located in India, in Khamgaon, Maharashtra. Unilever is investing 50 million Euros in the project.

“Unilever’s supply chain is central to the company’s delivery of consistent, sustainable and profitable growth,” said Pier Luigi Sigismondi, chief supply chain officer, Unilever. “This investment in India is part of our broader expansion plans to help us achieve our ambition of doubling our business, whilst halving our environmental impact.”

Sigismondi added, “We will utilize the latest technology to deliver the increased quality products our consumers demand whilst meeting the Unilever Sustainable Living Plan commitments.”

British Prime Minister David Cameron visited Unilever’s headquarters in India, and commented: “Unilever is a shining example of how a business with British roots can succeed in India and beyond and I’m delighted to hear they’re expanding further…”

The plant will service India and South East Asia including Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore and Vietnam. Unilever already directly employs more than 16,000 people full time in India. Head office is in Mumbai with more than 40 manufacturing plants across the country.

Sigismondi also pointed out that the Khamgaon plant is one of the thirty new factories that the company will build by 2015. Unilever plans to invest in Khamgaon over three years, scaling production capacity gradually until approximately 150 people will be employed directly – plus, it is likely that jobs will be created, indirectly, for 200 more.