Unileverhappy in Ghana, sees more expansion

01:40 p.m Mar 15, 1999 Eastern

ACCRA, March 15 (Reuters) - The chairman of Unilever NV ((ULVR.L) said on Monday he was happy with the ``splendid double digit growth'' seen at Unilever Ghana Limited (UNIL.GH) and officials said further expansion was planned in Ghana.

Morris Tabaksblat was speaking at a news conference in Accra during a world tour of Unilever business interests.

He said Unilever would continue with its emphasis on core products -- food, detergents and personal care items -- in developing markets, which was clearly bearing fruit.

Tabaksblat told Reuters later that ``the targets for the African market, which accounts for three percent of the concern's worldwide turnover, is to double growth in a period of three years.''

``However, this cannot be expected of Ghana, since it already established double digit growth figures for 1998,'' he added, declining to elaborate ahead of the publication of annual results expected towards the end of April.

Manfred Stach, group president for Africa, was also enthusiastic about West Africa. ``Macro-economic conditions in Ghana and Ivory Coast are the best in Africa,'' he said.

Unilever is present in Ivory Coast through its long-established Blohorn (BLOH.CI) company.

Ishmael Yamson, chairman of Unilever Ghana, said further expansion in tomato plantations was planned and Regondi Adriano, who works in London on business development for Africa, said palm oil processing would also be a focus in West Africa.

Unilever Ghana Limited has acquired palm plantations in the recent past and is planning to expand these in the near future.

``Palm oil will in the long run constitute about 50 percent of our raw material input. We use it in so many products like food and personal care and we do not want to be dependent on others supplying,'' Adriano said.