Heineken has opened a $60 million brewery in Myanmar, which will have a technical capacity of 330,000 hectolitres per year and which will directly employ more than 200.
Article continues below
The opening of the new brewery further expands Heineken's exposure to high growth markets. Myanmar has one of the largest populations in Southeast Asia, with more than 53 million people, rapid urbanization and a fast-growing middle-class consumer base.
For the year ending 31 March 2015 the country delivered GDP growth of 7.7% and is targeting further growth of 8.3%** for this fiscal year. These strong economics and demographics helped drive $8.01 billion*** of Foreign Direct Investment in 2015.
The new brewery is located at a greenfield site in the Hmawbi township, near the country's capital, Yangon. It will start by brewing Heineken® for the premium segment of the market and a new local brand, Regal Seven, a lager beer developed especially for the Myanmar market.
The brewery was built by APB Alliance Brewery Company Limited, a joint venture company in which Heineken, through its wholly owned subsidiary Heineken Asia Pacific, has a controlling 57 percent stake. Heineken is responsible for overall management, providing brewing and technical expertise, procurement of ingredients and the licensing of brands.
In addition to creating direct employment opportunities through the brewery, Heineken has introduced a number of local initiatives in line with its Brewing a Better World programme.
These include Employee and supplier Code of Conduct training and helping local rice millers to meet international guidelines and plans to convert smallholder farmers from insecure non-profitable farming to high yield contract farming.
There is also a formal engagement programme with community groups to address any issues of concern and a strong water stewardship programme including regular consultation with the Myanmar Engineering Society and local village representatives. ■
A Fall heatwave will continue into the weekend over portions of the Desert Southwest and central/southern California as a persistent trend of upper-ridging over the region remains in place.