Four hundred jobs will be created when Tanzania brewery opens opens its third factory in the Moshi region in northern Tanzania.

Serengeti Breweries Limited (SBL), a fully Tanzanian-owned brewery, will invest over US$40 million at the new plant to increase beer production by 50%. Speaking to the Business Week in Dar es Salaam last week, SBL Chairman Judge Mark Bomani said the new factory will start production in April 2010.

"The facility will produce over 500,000 hectolitres of beer annually, a move that will increase beer production by 50%," said Bomani.

The second largest brewer in the country also has breweries in Dar es Salaam and in the lake zones in Mwanza. The Mwanza plant, built two years ago will serve the lake zone and the Great Lakes region market.

Currently Serengeti Breweries exports to Kenya, Uganda, U.K. and Australia.

The Communications Manager, Ms Teddy Mapunda said SBL the Moshi factory will have the latest brewing technology and would create more than 700 jobs indirectly for the people in Moshi and from the neighbouring community.

She said the community will also benefit from SBL Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities in the region.

"We will work together with the community around us for the betterment of the people around us, and this will also promote the economic growth for the northern circuit," she said.

She said the company recently donated a new Landrover to Serengeti National Park to assist in fighting poaching.

SBL's brands include, Serengeti Premium Lager, Serengeti the Kick, Stella Artois Beer and Vita Malt Plus. Stella Artois is being produced under licence of "Inbev" the world's largest brewer with breweries in many parts of the World. "Vita Malt Plus" a non-alcoholic beverage is being produced under licence of Royal Unibrew of Denmark, Northern Europe's second largest producer of non-alcoholic drinks.