OREANDA-NEWS. September 29, 2011. The Coca-Cola Company, a worldwide IOC partner, has opened its largest beverage plant in Russia in the city of Rostov-on-Don. The plant opening has created over 400 jobs and a project investment of over USD 120 million dollars. Coca-Cola is going to invest about USD 3 bln. in the Russian economy in the next 5 years. The plant will supply all the Coca-Cola products for fans to enjoy at the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

Vasily Golubev, Head of the Rostov Region Administration, Muhtar Kent, Chairman of Board and CEO, The Coca-Cola Company, George David, Chairman of Board of Director Coca-Cola Hellenic and Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee were all present at the opening ceremony.

George David, Chairman of Board of Directors, Coca-Cola Hellenic, said:

“I am certain that the launch of this new plant in the Southern Federal District will significantly contribute to developing the region and to creating an innovative and eco-oriented economy. We believe in Russia’s potential as well as the potential of the region”.

Muhtar Kent, Chairman of Board and CEO, the Coca-Cola Company, marked:

“The Coca-Cola Company is proud to have an opportunity to offer its production to the 140 million-strong target audience of Russian consumers. We make every effort to remain an integral part of economic development of Russia and we continue to invest in our business, creating new jobs and stimulating growth throughout our entire supply chain. Today’s plant opening once again highlights our intention to put long-term investments in place within the Russian economy. The Coca-Cola Company, alongside our partner-bottler company, Coca-Cola Hellenic are investing more than 3 billion US Dollars into the Russian economy within the next five years, from 2012 to 2016”.

In their efforts to construct the new plant, the Coca-Cola Companie’s main goal was to minimize the impact on the environment. The factory has a water cleaning facility in place which is the most powerful system in Russia (1600 sq.m. a day). After cleaning, the sewage waters are placed into the municipal collector. The plant complies with all regulative norms of the environmental legislation, the ISO 14001 International Standard that is going to be implemented.

Dmitry Chernyshenko, President of Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee, marked:

”The construction of this new plant demonstrates that the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympic & Paralympic Games have become a catalyst for economic development in the South of Russia. Coca-Cola and the Sochi 2014 Organizing Committee share two key principles – a commitment to innovation and a determination to ensure that the impact of our activities on the environment is minimized. The plant uses some of the most advanced technologies so I have no doubt that this ongoing collaboration between Sochi 2014 and Coca-Cola, is going to be a successful one”.