A Chinese chemical company will open its U.S. headquarters and a manufacturing plant in Effingham County and is expected to create 50 jobs.
Gov. Nathan Deal announced the project by Hubei Xingfa Chemicals Group in Shanghai Thursday during a business, trade and tourism mission.
The company will build on an 83-acre site in the county’s industrial park on Ebenezer Road, just off Ga. 21 in the Rincon area.
Xingfa makes phosphate and fine chemicals that are used as additives in products such as toothpaste, according to John Henry, CEO of the Effingham County Industrial Development Authority.
Henry and Dennis Webb, chairman of the IDA, were in Shanghai with the governor this week for the company’s announcement.
Henry has said some of the company’s products are sold to Procter & Gamble. He quoted company officials as saying if you bathe, wash clothes or brush your teeth, you’re using their products.
Products made in Effingham will be exported to North American markets through the port of Savannah.
The Xingfa facility is expected to begin hiring in 2014.
"We are grateful to Georgia and Effingham County for supporting our company and are confident that the wide array of resources they offer will contribute significantly to Xingfa's continuing success,” said Guozhang Li, chairman and CEO of Xingfa Group.
Deal welcomed the company to Georgia.
“Our outstanding workforce and logistics advantages were a strong selling point, and our meeting with the company today assured its leaders of our commitment to its success,” he said.
Webb said the deal is the result of cooperation among the county, state and company.
“I am confident that this company will become a solid asset to Effingham County and the state,” he said.
The state’s pro-business policies coupled with its economic growth create an ideal location for international manufacturing companies, said Chris Cummiskey, commissioner of the Georgia Department of Economic Development.
The Effingham IDA has been working on the project since last fall.
ABOUT HUBEI XINGFA CHEMICALS GROUP
Hubei Xingfa is a public company that develops, produces and sells phosphate products and fine chemical products.
Founded in 1984 and based in the city of Yichang, Hubei Province, it is the largest phosphates enterprise in central China. It manufactures 70 varieties of products including technical, feed, food and electronic-grade products.
The company exports products to more than 40 countries worldwide and has a strategic partner relationship with Procter & Gamble, Dow Chemical and Unilever.
Xingfa has more than 30 subsidiary companies and is listed on the Shanghai Stock Exchange.
Its website is http://www.xingfagroup.com/en/