Coca-Cola has ‘significant plans’ to expand in Malaysia

The construction of American beverage giant The Coca-Cola Co’s bottling plant at Bandar Enstek’s techpark in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, is 75% ready and expected to be completed by January, according to a top official.

“We are moving along a little bit faster than we expected and we are very excited about this project,” said Coca-Cola Pacific Group president Glenn Jordan.

Jordan, who was speaking to a Malaysian trade and investment promotion delegation led by International Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed here on Sunday, said the company, the largest soft-drink maker in the world, had “significant plans” to expand its business in Malaysia. “Over the next few years, we would like to expand our core business there,” he said.
 
Datuk Seri Mustapa Mohamed says Coca-Cola’s investment signals its confidence in Malaysia.
 
Earlier this year, Coca-Cola said it chose to set up the 123,024 sq m bottling plant at the techpark largely due to attractive logistics costs. It said then that it hoped to have the plant operational before the agreement with current bottler Fraser & Neave Holdings Bhd expired in September 2011.

To be constructed according to the Leadership in Energy and Environment Design certification which is a global standard for eco-friendly buildings, the plant is expected to create more than 6,000 job opportunities. “The plans are all on track, the Malaysian market is very important to us and we will deliver on our promise of investments,” Jordan said.

Coca-Cola will invest RM1bil over the next five years in Malaysia including in the plant, it said in March, without revealing its exact local beverage market share. Meanwhile, Mustapa said he valued the confidence Coca-Cola had in Malaysia. “We value this investment (as) it is clearly a sign of confidence in us. The prospects for the Malaysian economy are indeed very good,” he said.

Mustapa is scheduled to have roundtable meetings with selected US companies here before departing for Philadelphia later today, Malaysian time. The week-long mission, which covers Atlanta, Philadelphia and Washington, is his first formal trip as a Miti delegation chief to the United States.

Earlier on Sunday, he hosted a meeting and luncheon with the Malaysian Association of Georgia as well as Malaysian students studying in the neighbouring states and cities.

Source: http://www.supplychains.com