The Coca-Cola Company has begun construction of a bottling plant at the Enstek Industrial Park in the town of Nilai in the Malaysian state of Negeri Sembilanin. The 123,024-square-metre facility is expected to become operational before the end of 2011 and will provide products to consumers throughout the country.
Prime Minister Dato’ Seri Najib Tun Abdul Razak officially led the ground-breaking, which is the first step in Coca-Cola’s plan to invest MYR1 billion (USD285 million) in Malaysia over the next five years. "I am excited to welcome this significant investment in Malaysia and I congratulate Coca-Cola for its strong commitment to Malaysia. I take it as a strong signal that the world’s most recognised brand is expanding in this important market and enhancing its contribution to the Malaysian market," Najib said.
Glenn Jordan, president of the Pacific Group of the Coca-Cola Company, said, "With the new plant, one of the most modern of its kind in this part of the world, we will be able to support our core brands of Coca-Cola and Sprite in the coming years. We will also bring exciting new beverages to Malaysian consumers from our strong global portfolio in the coming months."
The new investment will directly create 600-800 new jobs at the bottling plant, and is expected to create between 6,000 and 8,000 jobs with local suppliers. The new plant will provide 27 million local consumers with easier access to a wide range of Coca-Cola products. Currently, the annual per capita consumption of Coca-Cola products in Malaysia is well below that of many ASEAN countries. With the establishment of the plant and additional investments in infrastructure, sales and marketing activities, local consumption of Coca-Cola products is expected to increase.
Jordan added, "As we succeed, it is important to us that Malaysian communities succeed as well. We are proud of our investments in programmes to help sustain communities – in promoting an active Malaysia through partnerships and as sponsors of sporting programmes like the Olympic Council of Malaysia. Since 2006, we have also been a partner with the Malaysian Nature Society on water conservation efforts among school children nationwide, and we are currently providing clean water to more than 10,000 villagers in Sabah."