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Nutridor Expands Regional Footprint with AED 75M Factory in Dubai
Nutridor, a leading food and beverage (F&B) company under TGI Group, has launched its first state-of-the-art dairy production facility in the UAE at Dubai Industrial City, part of TECOM Group PJSC.
The newly launched facility represents an investment of AED 75 million and will serve demand for Nutridor’s high-quality dairy products under the ‘Abevia’ brand.
The new dairy facility has a total built-up area of 100,000 sq.ft. and was developed in less than a year, including the installation of the latest technologies and innovations in dairy manufacturing to ensure that Abevia continues to deliver high-quality products to its customers.
The commencement of commercial operations from the factory will double Abevia’s production capacity to 120,000 litres of milk a day.
The factory’s inauguration ceremony was attended by distinguished guests including His Excellency Mohammed Mousa Alameeri, Assistant Undersecretary for the Food Diversity Sector at the Ministry of Climate Change and Environment of the UAE; His Excellency Mohammed Dansanta Rimi, Ambassador of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Embassy of Nigeria in UAE; Mohammed Al Kamali, COO of Manufacturing & Export Development at Dubai Economic Development Corporation (DEDC); and Abdulla Belhoul, CEO of TECOM Group PJSC.
Commenting at the launch, Mohammed Al Kamali, COO of Manufacturing & Export Development at DEDC, said: “The inauguration of Nutridor’s facility underscores the steadfast support of TECOM Group PJSC and Dubai Industrial City in their commitment to fostering a conducive environment for new ventures, which contributes directly to Dubai’s economic diversification, in line with the Dubai Economic Agenda, D33.
“As Dubai’s Department of Economy and Tourism strives to harness the collective support of its stakeholders and partners to drive forward this visionary Agenda to enhance the competitiveness of the emirate’s manufacturing sector, the newly launched state-of-the-art dairy production facility represents a significant initiative and investment, creating an environment that nurtures entrepreneurship, embraces innovation, and catalyses economic expansion.
“We are committed to supporting similar growth and investment as they are instrumental in shaping Dubai’s economic progress and contributing to the sustainable growth of the emirate.”
The factory will help to deliver value-added dairy products, supporting Nutridor’s goal of reducing import reliance and enhancing its position in the regional F&B sector. Nutridor estimates revenues of AED 110 million from the factory’s operations.
Commenting on the new factory on behalf of Dubai Industrial City, Saud Abu Alshawareb, Executive Vice President of Industrial at TECOM Group PJSC, said: “Localising manufacturing activity in the F&B sector is paramount as economic and ecological conditions evolve around the world. It is a critical lever to unlock enhanced food security, economic growth, and positive environmental impact at a global scale.
“Nutridor’s factory at Dubai Industrial City is a strategic move towards self-sufficiency in the F&B sector and its geographically strategic location within our district will help to unlock greater nutrition security for local and regional populations, aligning with the goals of the UAE’s National Food Security Strategy 2051.
The factory also reiterates Dubai Industrial City’s contribution to government strategies aimed at elevating the manufacturing sector’s GDP contribution, such as Operation 300bn, Make it in the Emirates, and Dubai Economic Agenda ‘D33’.
A collaborative and business-friendly ecosystem must be championed to leverage local competencies and export the ‘Made in UAE’ brandmark to new geographies, and Dubai Industrial City remains committed to nurturing this environment.”
Local competencies
Nutridor has a vast network of operations in the Middle East and Africa region, with customers in over 15 countries, including the GCC nations, Jordan, Lebanon, Angola, Gambia, Ghana, and Senegal.
The new Abevia factory at Dubai Industrial City will create over 200 new direct and indirect jobs, underscoring the commitment to nurturing Emirati talent and contributing to D33’s overarching objectives of economic expansion and diversification by Nutridor, which aims to secure In-Country Value (ICV) certification in the UAE in 2023.
Commenting on the factory’s launch, Sankha Biswas, CEO of Nutridor said: “This facility represents a pivotal juncture for Nutridor and Abevia that will allow us to manufacture our products locally and fulfil the region’s burgeoning demand for high-quality dairy products.
“We are committed to contributing to the food security goals of the UAE. The UAE also has a growing population with an increasing demand for high-quality food products, and we stand as flag bearers for the Make it in Emirates initiative.
Abevia is dedicated to meeting the highest standards of quality and safety for its products, adhering to the rigorous standards set by Nutridor, the Dubai Municipality, and the UAE government. We will seek to continually grow and expand our product offerings.”
In line with the UAE Net-Zero 2050 strategy, the facility has been designed to ensure zero waste and will use solar power to meet 100,000 kilowatt-hours’ worth of its energy requirements.
Its strategic location within Dubai Industrial City – close to Al Maktoum International Airport, Jebel Ali Port, key national highways, and soon, an Etihad Rail freight terminal – will provide greater access to new markets for Abevia. Nutridor is avoiding 8,144 tonnes of carbon emissions – equivalent to removing 1,759 cars from the roads or planting 135,735 trees over a decade – by moving its manufacturing base to the district.
Abevia was awarded ‘Superbrands’ status in the UAE in 2022 and 2023 in recognition of its excellence in quality by an independent panel of experts and consumers, making it one of the youngest brands to achieve the recognition.
Furthermore, in its pursuit of achieving the highest international standards in the industry, Nutridor also recently received the coveted Food Safety System Certification FSSC 22000, a benchmarked standard of the Global Food Safety Initiative (GMSI).
African technology start-ups will receive a $46 million (€40 million) commitment from EIB Global, the development arm of the European Investment Bank (EIB).
The funds will be deployed through the first Africa-focused investment vehicle from European venture capital (VC) firm Speedinvest.
The Speedinvest Africa Fund, which has a total target size of €200 million, targets companies across innovation hubs in Egypt, Morocco, Nigeria, Kenya, and South Africa.
It also invests in high-potential markets, including Ghana, Côte d’Ivoire, Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Tunisia, Tanzania, and Uganda.
The investment strengthens EU–Africa ties, supports digital transformation, and promotes inclusive economic growth, says the EIB.
The strategy is designed to improve digital and financial inclusion while enabling start-ups to scale across borders by strengthening linkages between African and European ecosystems. Technology has the power to turn good ideas into real impact, says Karl Nehammer, vice-president of the EIB.
By backing this vehicle, it is enabling African innovators to scale, access new markets, and build sustainable businesses, says Nehammer.
The fund focuses on technology-enabled and mobile-based services across payments, healthcare, mobility, and education.
This aligns with the EU’s Global Gateway priorities and is expected to deliver social benefits, including job creation for youth and expanded access to digital banking for underserved communities.
At least 30% of the vehicle’s capital will support companies advancing gender equality, including those with women as founders, employees, or consumers.
With EIB Global support, the firm is deepening its long-term commitment to backing founders across Africa while strengthening enduring bridges between Africa and Europe, says Oliver Holle, CEO and managing partner of Speedinvest.
Speedinvest has previously backed African growth-stage companies, including mobility fintech Moove and digital bank FairMoney.
By combining a local presence with a European network of operators, sector expertise, and follow-on capital, the firm aims to help founders scale regionally and internationally, says Holle.
The fund will be managed by partners Deepali Nangia and Rana Abdel Latif, with a new African office planned to support its local operations.
Three individuals connected to a US tech firm have been indicted by the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) for their alleged role in a massive scheme to smuggle billions of dollars worth of restricted Nvidia AI chips to China, bypassing strict export controls.
Nvidia Chip
Prosecutors accuse the suspects of using fake documents, dummy equipment, and even hair dryers to tamper with labels in a bid to dodge compliance checks.
The plot centred on high-performance semiconductors from Nvidia, which are tightly regulated by the US due to fears they could boost China’s military and AI capabilities.
Yih-Shyan “Wally” Liaw, a US citizen and co-founder of California-based Super Micro Computer (a server maker), has been charged alongside two Taiwanese nationals: Ting-Wei “Willy” Sun and Ruei-Tsang “Steven” Chang (who remains at large).
The group reportedly partnered with a Southeast Asian firm to order servers packed with banned chips. They falsified records claiming the gear would stay in Asia, but repackaged and shipped it covertly to China.
Tactics included deploying thousands of fake “dummy” servers for audits, while real restricted tech was diverted. Sun allegedly used household hair dryers to swap serial numbers and labels.
Super Micro Computer confirmed the suspects’ links but stressed it faces no charges and is aiding the probe.
The DOJ estimates the intermediary bought $2.5 billion in equipment, illegally funneling vast amounts of controlled AI tech to China without licences.
This case underscores escalating US-China tech rivalry, where advanced chips are viewed as vital for national security and economic edge.
In a parallel probe, two Chinese nationals were earlier charged for rerouting chips via Malaysia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and mainland China. US authorities warn of tough penalties for evasion.
This development signals intensified global scrutiny on tech supply chains amid superpower tensions.
United Kingdom and Nigeria have agreed on a three-year strategic plan to tackle organised immigration crime and strengthen border security cooperation.
The initiative was announced in a joint statement by the UK Home Office following the state visit of Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the UK.
The agreement was signed by UK Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood and Nigeria’s Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo.
According to the statement, the framework focuses on combating visa fraud, improving border management systems, and enhancing legal cooperation between both countries.
Under the plan, Nigeria is expected to review its legal framework to impose stricter penalties on immigration-related offences, particularly those involving forged or fraudulent travel documents.
Both countries also pledged to strengthen laws and enforcement mechanisms governing visa processing and travel documentation.
A key component of the agreement is the expansion of the UK–Nigeria Organised Immigration Crime Unit, with new memoranda of understanding centred on intelligence sharing and joint operations.
The UK government will further support Nigerian border agencies through training programmes and capacity-building initiatives.
The partnership also places emphasis on the protection of vulnerable migrants, particularly women and children, while enhancing research, document verification systems, and migration monitoring processes through the UK–Nigeria Migration, Justice and Home Affairs Dialogue.
Both governments described the agreement as a reflection of their shared commitment to tackling transnational crime and improving migration management through closer collaboration.
The deal forms part of broader engagements during Tinubu’s visit, which focused on strengthening bilateral relations across security, migration, and economic development.
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