Coca Cola, partners to invest USD 2 bn in India over 5 yrs

Gurgaon, India, Nov 14 (PTI) In one of its single biggest investments, beverage major Coca Cola and its partners will invest USD 2 billion over the next five years to enhance its operations in India and set up a new plant. "Along with our partners, we will invest USD 2 billion in India in the next five years. Apart from China and US in the past, this is one of our single largest investment in a country," Coca Cola Eurasia and Africa Group President Ahmet C Bozer told reporters at Gurgaon a suburban city on the outskirts of Delhi in the northern state of Haryana. India is one of the most important growth markets for Coca Cola and the investment is being made as a part of the company's 2020 vision of doubling system revenues globally, he said. Since its re-entry into India in 1993, Coca Cola has pumped over USD 2 billion into the country. "This investment is part of our commitment to invest in innovation partnerships, portfolio of brands and enhancing infrastructure," Coca Cola India and South-West Asia President and CEO Atul Singh said. A part of the planned investment will go toward setting up a company-owned manufacturing plant. Singh said the firm is currently scouting locations in the southern state of Karnataka for establishing the new facility. PTI