Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki Thursday welcomed the decision by Coca Cola Company to make Nairobi its regional Headquarters.
Receiving senior representatives of Coca-Cola East and Central Africa region, Kibaki said the gesture was an indication that the Company had confidence in Kenya.
During their talks, Kibaki thanked the company for reaffirming its commitment to Kenya’s economic development.
He noted noted that his Government was committed to making Kenya the country of choice for key multinationals and other investors as envisioned in his government ‘s Vision 2030.
He noted that the Government had instituted comprehensive measures to reduce the cost of establishing and doing business in the country with the aim of creating enough jobs for Kenya’s youth.
Coca-Cola East and Central Africa President, Nathan Kalumbu, said that Kenya’s strategic position in Africa could serve the region and the continent at large very efficiently.
Kalumbu said that Coca-Cola was constructing an ultra modern office block at a cost of US$ 10 million scheduled to be officially opened later this year as an indication of the confidence the multinational had in Kenya’s economic potential.
He revealed that the beverage maker was also in the process of expanding and investing in the already existing Coca-Cola bottling plants in the country — Equator, Coastal, Kisii and Nairobi Bottlers.
Kalumbu reaffirmed the company’s intention of remaining a long-term development partner with the Government in all spheres of life, including the ongoing reconciliation and healing process in the country.
PANAPRESS
