Coca-Cola Ichimligi Uzbekistan has announced plans to invest $165mn in constructing two new factories, Spot reported on April 8.

The first factory, to be situated in the Samarkand region across 18.5 hectares, will specialise in soft drink production. It is expected to produce 280mn litres annually and create 200 job opportunities. CCI International Holland B.V. will contribute $115mn of the $133mn investment. Operations are set to commence in 2Q24, targeting export markets in CIS countries.

In the Namangan region, the second factory, spanning 14.2 hectares, will focus on carbonated drink production. It aims to produce 198mn litres annually and create 300 new jobs. The project is estimated at $50mn, with investment from CCI International Holland B.V.

Construction is scheduled for completion by 4Q24, with operations set to begin in 1Q25. The Namangan location was strategically chosen for its proximity to neighbouring countries, facilitating efficient product export.

Both factories will primarily cater to the domestic market and implement technologies to reduce energy consumption by 10-15% and purify water for reuse in production. Coca-Cola's sustainability efforts have led to a 12% reduction in water consumption over the past two years.

In 2021, the Uzbekistan State Assets Management Agency (UzSAMA) facilitated the swift privatisation of state-owned enterprises (SOEs), including the Coca-Cola bottling plant, with the Turkish Coca-Cola İçecek (CCI) Group acquiring government shares through a competitive auction process.