Nestle’s New Factories For Latin America

02 Jun 2017 --- Nestlé SA is tackling social issues in Latin America first-hand by investing in new factories which will create around 2,900 jobs. 

The confectionery giant is in talks with four countries - Chile, Mexico, Peru and Colombia - all members of the Pacific Alliance trade group which is focused on trade liberalization. Last May, the Alliance removed 92% of tariffs on goods traded between members and the remainder of tariffs are planned for removal by 2020. 
 
By negotiating with governments officials from the four countries Nestlé plans to create the jobs for young people over a three year period as well as teach job-hunting skills.
 
Nestlé has already carried out a similar move in Europe in recent years where several countries are just starting to recover from an unemployment crisis which directly affected the younger population. 
 
In an interview with news agency Reuters, the company's Americas head, Laurent Freixe, said: “Our view on corporate responsibility is that to make it sustainable we have to do it in a way that is embedded in our business model. Integrating young people can help us shape our company at a time of digital revolution.”
 
“We're not proposing the jobs just to do good for society. Our business is developing and we have real needs.”
 
There has been a slowdown in the Latin America region in recent years, however Freixe added that there is potential for growth in areas such as coffee and pet care due to an expanding middle class population. 
 
“We have investments in many places. We are finalizing investments in pet food and infant nutrition in Mexico. We are discussing new sites (through the region),” he said.
 
The company is also finalizing a new factory in southern Chile and another is planned for Cuba.