Afghanistan's president Hamid Karzai has inaugurated a “state-of-the-art” Coca-Cola bottling plant on a 60,000m2 site in Kabul's Bagrami industrial area.
The drinks giant says the substantial investment of “up to US$25m” made in the factory is seen as a significant endorsement of the Afghan government's efforts to push ahead with the country's reconstruction and attract local and foreign investment.
The facilities will be operated under a franchising agreement by Habib Gulzar Non-Alcoholic Beverages, and will initially bottle core carbonated beverage brands including Coca-Cola, Fanta and Sprite. Both PET and returnable glass bottle production lines have been installed and it is planned to produce bottled water and non-alcoholic drinks in future alongside carbonated beverages.
Selcuk Erden, president of Coca-Cola's southern Eurasia region, said at the inauguration ceremony: "The Coca-Cola Company is committed to the economic development of Afghanistan and believes this investment will generate significant employment through direct and indirect jobs, help to create a healthy distribution and retail sector here and contribute financially to Afghanistan's economic development.
“Afghanistan was the missing link in our geography and we have followed this country very carefully. As soon as conditions were improved, we started our operations, first via distribution and then through investment, all accomplished by our local partner, Mr Habib Gulzar and his family.”
