Coca-Cola to invest $2 billion in India

NEW DELHI: Beverage maker Coca-Cola on Monday announced that its Atlanta-based parent will invest US$2 billion in the country over the next five years, beginning 2012. This is the single largest investment in one phase for Coca-Cola in India since it began operations here 18 years back. India ranks among the firm’s top 10 markets in volume globally, and is the largest market in the Eurasia and Africa Group.

“The investment will capture the opportunity in the Indian non-alcoholic ready-to-drink beverage market; it will span across infrastructure, brand building and sustainability programmes,” Ahmet C. Bozer, Coca-Cola’s president, Eurasia and Africa Group, told media persons here today. “India is one of our most important growth markets as we work toward our vision of doubling system revenues,” Bozer said.

Coca-Cola has invested over US$2 billion in India since it re-entered the country in 1993.

Atul Singh, president & CEO, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia, said the country’s demographics, economic and social parameters were big growth drivers. “We have to ensure that we capitalise on the opportunity,” he said.

The beverage maker has registered 15 quarters of double-digit growth.