Swiss food and nutrition products giant Nestlé S.A. (NSRGY.PK, NSTR.L) said that it plans to build Nescafé Coffee Centre in China.
The company noted that it has signed a memorandum of understanding with the local government in Pu'er, Yunnan province, agreeing to invest in a Nescafé Coffee Centre in the region that will include a coffee farming institute and a consumer experience centre'.
The institute, which will be the largest of its kind in China, will provide training to 5,000 farmers, agronomists, and coffee business professionals every year.
In 2011, the company extended its support for local farmers in Yunnan with the introduction of the Nescafé Plan. The ten-year, worldwide, 350 million Swiss francs initiative brings together Nestlé's commitments on coffee farming, production, supply and consumption.
It will see the company double the amount of coffee it buys directly from farmers and their associations by 2015.
Nestlé announced its investment in Yunnan province just two days after it said it would continue with the second phase of its five-year, 500 million Yuan or more than 70 million francs investment in its ice-cream business in China.
The company completed the first phase of the investment last year with the installation of new equipment at its ice cream cones factory in Guangzhou province.
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