Kinshasa, February 23th, 2022 (CPA) – The President of the Republic, Felix Tshisekedi, ordered the government to facilitate the rapid installation of production plants for the Pepsi range in the Democratic Republic of Congo, after having informed the ministers, during the last council, of his fruitful exchanges, in his office at the City of African Union, with the representatives of RJ Corp/Varun Beverages firm which represents PEPSI Group in Africa and Asia.
This injunction from the Head of State comes at the right time, « in view of the economic benefits expected from this investment and strong from the creation of direct and indirect jobs which will result from it for the youth », indicated in the report of this meeting, the Minister in charge of Posts, Telecommunications and New Information and Communication Technologies (PT-NTIC), temporary Spokesperson, Augustin Kibassa Maliba.
The Ministers in charge of Finance, Economy, Land Affairs, Industry and all the other services involved have been responsible for ensuring the materialization of this important project, under the supervision of the Prime Minister.
Relief for the Congolese Youth
Previously, the Chairman of PEPSI Group Ravi Jaipuria, received in audience, in February 2022, by the Prime Minister, Jean-Michel Sama Lukonde, had announced the start of his investments in DRC, through a construction site of local manufacturing plants for the entire range of the world-renowned PEPSI brand, namely Mirinda, Sevenup, Pepsi and others.
Speaking to the press after the hearing, the World President of PEPSI Group said that the launch of the activities of this firm could bring a sigh of relief to Congolese youth who will benefit from direct and indirect jobs.
Already, in October 2021, a delegation led by the Minister in charge of Industry, Julien Paluku, had traveled to Harare, capital of Zimbabwe, to realize the great capacity of the firm Varun Beverages.
The Congolese Minister in charge of Industry had, on this occasion, attended the inauguration of the 3rd phase of the project of this brewing company by the Zimbabwean President, Emmerson Mnangagwa, before welcoming the fact that more than 5,500 jobs have been created, in this country, by this brewing company which holds the license of the PEPSI Group, for an investment estimated at around 100 million USD, we recall.
