From an Italian multinational company that decided to invest in Kenya comes an important aid to Kenya in the battle against the counterfeiting of alcohol which represents one of the cases of corruption and malpractice that recently led to the closure of some companies producing and distributing spirits and the arrest of their managers.
Guala Closures Group, based in the province of Alessandria and listed on the stock exchange, has invested about 5 million euros to open a plant near Nairobi to supply alcohol producers in Kenya, and in the wider East African market, with "nipcaps", or anti-counterfeiting closures equipped with the latest technologies. Alberto Pieri, the Italian Ambassador to Kenya, was also present at the inauguration of the new Guala Closures production site and was proud to comment on the operation.
"Kenyan companies bottling beverages in Kenya will be better protected and will have more confidence in the African market thanks to the technology of an Italian company in the field of "intelligent" closures - declared Pieri - all this means a better offer that translates into earnings, jobs and hopes for young people with new hires. This agreement proves once again that Kenya is an attractive market for investment by our commercial realities.
The Kenyan anti-counterfeiting authority estimates that at least one in five products sold in Kenyan shops is not original.
The Kenyan Manufacturers' Association has recently calculated that counterfeiting of products causes the state almost 2 million euros less revenue. "We continue to invest and expand our plant in Nairobi to the point that last month we sold more than 20 million Nipcaps. We help our customers combat counterfeiting and defend their valuable brands. It means more sales, revenues and better livelihoods for their employees," said David Stevenson, regional director of Guala Closures Africa and India.