An Indian-owned food importing company has launched its new food production facility in the UAE with an investment of USD 95.2 million.

With the expansion of its production facility, Arab & India Spices (AIS) eyes an annual turnover of Dh 1 billion (USD 272 million) starting from this year.

The new unit in Ajman is built with an investment of Dh 350 million (USD 95.2 million).

The 70-year-old company is one of the first and largest firms that sources and processes a range of pulses and ground spices in the Gulf.

The company records the largest import of pulses, lentils, spices and rice from various sourcing points around the world with hundreds of tonnes of foodstuff being imported annually to the GCC.

Harish Kumar Lal Tahiliani, Managing Director of Arab & India Spices, said: "This new facility is an extended version of AIS' existing state-of-the-art food processing plant in Ajman. AIS began in a 400 square feet facility in the UAE and now it operates a 400,000 square feet production facility extended gradually, making AIS one of the largest food production and processing facility in the region."

"The hi-tech plant is part of the company's plans to drive the continued growth of its business in the UAE and expand further into other parts of the Gulf region. AIS has diversified its operations from milling and grinding to processing of whole spices and consumer packing," Tahiliani said