Philips keen on SADC region factory

Friday, July 21, 2006

Excerpt: Johannesburg – Electronics giant Philips said on Tuesday that it hoped to build a compact fluorescent lamps (CFL) assembly factory in the SADC region – the first of its kind in Africa.

“Millions of Southern Africans living in both rural and urban households do not have access to electricity, and those that do often struggle to afford quality lighting. Instead, they rely on hazardous paraffin, kerosene or candles which are not only major pollutants, but also often lead to fires,” the statement said.

Philips is this week co-hosting a UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to investigate the feasibility of building an assembly factory in southern Africa.

A high level delegation of representatives from the South African government, Eskom, City Power and the 11 Southern African Development Community (SADC) countries will meet at the Holiday Inn in Pretoria on Wednesday and Thursday.

Philips Lighting is engaged in the development, manufacturing and application of lighting solutions. The company also develops environmentally-conscious sustainable lighting solutions.

Philips Lighting SA general manager Luc Escoute said Southern Africa needed light sources which consumed less energy to counteract the scarce electricity supply in the region and to provide consumers with a more reliable and cheaper form of lighting.

Source: Fin24 (link opens in a new window)