Turkish glass manufacturer Sisecam has completed a furnace investment at its Mina, Georgia facility.
It has taken the first products from its renovated second glass packaging furnace at the production facility after a €20 million investment.
The furnace has been bolstered with the latest glassmaking technologies.
The first products were taken from the furnace yesterday (June 20) with a ceremony to mark the occasion.
Sisecam CEO Görkem Elverici told the ceremony that the company chose Georgia for its first investment outside Turkey 26 years ago.
“This was a highly strategic first step for our extensive global production network. Today, Sisecam operates 45 facilities in 14 countries on four continents.
"Since 1997, our business operations in Georgia have been contributing to the country's economy via ongoing investments, production activities and employment opportunities.”
He said the glassmaking furnace’s capacity had increased by 50% and expanded its total glass packaging production capacity in Georgia by 25%.
“We will now respond to the intensive glass packaging demands of the country and the region even faster," he added.
The ceremony was also attended by Levan Davitashvili, Deputy Prime Minister and Georgian Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development; Ali Kaan Orbay.
Sisecam started production in Georgia with an annual capacity of 18,000 tons.
At present, it has an annual production capacity of 75,000 tons in Georgia with two furnaces at the Mina facility.
It makes glass packaging in various volumes and in green, flint, and light blue colours for water, mineral water, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, and the food industry.
Sisecam is the sole glass manufacturer in Georgia and employs 250 people in the country.
