Coca-Cola to invest $5-bn in India

26 Jun 2012

Coca-Cola Co, the world's largest soft-drinks company, plans to invest Rs28,000 crore  ($5 billion) in India by 2020, chairman Muhtar Kent today said in New Delhi.

Coca-Cola, whose largest markets are the US and Mexico respectively, has recently announced huge investments in emerging markets in order to expand its presence in the region.

The move comes after the Atlanta, Georgia-based company announced late last year that it would invest $3 billion in Russia over the next five years and $4 billion in China over the next three years.

"Coca Cola will invest $5 billion in India between now and 2020. This investment in India is a part of $30 billion globally planned by the company. India aims to be among top five countries in Coca Cola's markets. It is at present number seven," Kent told reporters here in the capital.

Coca Cola along with its bottling partners will invest in marketing and brand building, expansion, distribution and hiking manufacturing capacity.

This investment is higher by $3 billion from an earlier announcement made last year.