Indochine Health Products, a Dutch-owned health care company is set to open a U.S.

$250,000 plant in Phnom Penh to produce its Mosbar brand of mosquito repellant.

Hans. C. Engelhardt, the managing director, said Indochine decided to build the factory

because of the high incidence of malaria and dengue fever in Cambodia, which claim

thousands of lives every year.

He said the deaths were preventable and noted few foreigners die of malaria because

they have access to medical precautions not currently available to Cambodia's population.

"We will train the people to use Mosbar and I hope that many NGOs will help

us," he said.

Engelhardt said the highest risk areas were in the western provinces, especially

along the border areas with Laos and Thailand.

The factory, which will employ 20 workers, will be able to produce 5,000 packets

of Mosbar a day. It will begin operation in mid-May. Engelhardt said Indochine plans

to market Mosbar throughout Indochina as well as Thailand and China.

Englehardt admitted the price of U.S. $3 was expensive for many Cambodians but said:

"If the parents do not drink beer for one time they will be able to buy Mosbar,

and it can be used for their children."