Indian company to invest $30 million in Zambia

LUSAKA: An Indian soft drinks company has unveiled its plans to invest over USD 30 million in Zambia for establishing two soft drink plants in the African nation.

Ravi Jaipuria, the Chairperson of RJ Group of Companies said that his company, which is the manufacturer of pepsi cola drinks and juices among others, plans to set up a plant in Lusaka in its first phase for which the place for plant would be disclosed later.

He said that the establishment of the two plants will create over 2,000 direct jobs and an additional 1,000 indirect employment in Zambia.

Jaipuria spoke in Lusaka when his delegation called on Acting President Rupiah Banda at the Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) offices on Friday.

He said his delegation was in the country to hold discussions with the Ministry of Commerce and Industry on the possibility of setting up the plants.

He said apart from having its biggest operation in India, the company operated in seven other countries including Uganda, Mozambique and Mauritius in Africa.

He hoped the deliberations with government would be fruitful so that the establishment of the two plants commences next year.

Acting President Rupiah Banda said the government attached great importance to both local and foreign investment, adding it was in a hurry to grow the economy.