The Coca-Cola Company has officially opened its QR132mn ($36mn) Al Mana Plant — the Atlanta, Georgia-based multinational beverage corporation’s first bottling facility in Qatar.
Irial Finan, executive vice-president of The Coca-Cola Company and president of the Bottling Investments Group (BIG), joined senior representatives from Qatar’s business community during the inauguration of the 28,000sqm bottling facility, which contains PET plastic bottle production lines that will produce a range of sparkling and still beverages.
The dignitaries present during the ceremony included US ambassador Dana Shell Smith, Al Mana Group vice-chairman Saud O al-Mana, Group finance director Tariq O al-Mana of Al Mana Group, Coca-Cola Middle East general manager Murat Ozgel, and Mohamed Akeel, managing director for Coca-Cola Bottling Company in Bahrain and Qatar.
The new plant represents Coca-Cola’s long-term commitment to Qatar and is the latest in a series of investments throughout the Middle East region. The facility is expected to increase the company’s production and ensures meeting the growing demands of the country and, potentially, the region.
The development of the state-of-the art facility began in 2014 and will employ approximately 300 personnel in the first phase, including production and distribution.
Outlining The Coca-Cola Company’s commitment to Qatar, Finan said: “We selected Qatar because of its unique position in the region and for being one of the fastest-growing economies in the world. The country has a 2030 vision, which aligns with our own mission to build local, consumer-driven, customer-focused, profitable, and sustainable businesses.
“The setting up of this plant allows us to proudly manufacture and distribute beverages in Qatar, invest in our people, and provide tangible economic benefit to the country. We are proud to be a part of Qatar and we will work to earn the trust of consumers, customers, business partners, and all of our stakeholders in the country.”
The inauguration of the new plant comes as part of Coca-Cola’s commitment to being a global business with an intensive local focus. Coca-Cola’s presence in Qatar has, to date, included a number of partnerships across sectors, including community and government, as well as initiatives like ‘Thirst Quenchers’ and ‘Copa Coca-Cola.’
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