On Thursday, Coca Cola, a prominent global soft drink company, revealed its plans to invest INR 1,387 crore in establishing a new manufacturing facility in the Ratnagiri district of Maharashtra. Situated across 88 acres in the Lote Parshuram Industrial area within the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation zone, the facility will make use of water sourced from the Vashishthi river, as stated by Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages.
The anticipated operational date for the greenfield facility in the Khed taluka is 2025, marking a significant advancement in the company’s manufacturing capabilities.
The facility is set to generate employment for 350 individuals through both direct and indirect means. Additionally, the state is expected to witness positive impacts on a larger scale, benefiting a total of 81,000 people through various community initiatives, as mentioned in the statement.
These initiatives encompass educational infrastructure, water ATMs, sustainable agriculture, and community engagement centers, as indicated in the statement. A direct outcome of these efforts is the positive impact on 10,000 individuals in the Lote Parshuram area.
A groundbreaking ceremony for the plant was held at the site on Friday, and was attended by state Chief Minister Eknath Shinde and HCCB chief executive Juan Pablo Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said the land in Maharashtra is “fertile” and its investment should be seen as one symbolising planting the seeds of growth and community partnership.
Shinde welcomed the company’s decision, and added that the state government is aiming to make Maharashtra as a beacon of sustainable and equitable growth.
The company has 16 factories manufacturing 60 products across the country at present, and has its operations spread in 22 states.