Coca-Cola

US-based drinks major Coca-Cola is planning to boost its production capacity, with the establishment of five new production plants in Egypt and Pakistan, over a period of next 18 months.

The move comes after the company has witnessed increasing sales in both the countries during this year, reports Reuters.

Earlier in March, the company has earmarked around $500m to invest in Egypt over the next three years.

Of the proposed investment, around $100m will see the construction of a new juice plant near Cairo, under a joint venture project with Aujan Coca-Cola Beverages.

The company will also construct a sparkling drinks and water plant, which is anticipated to become operational in 2015.

Meanwhile, the remaining amount will be used to ramp up the production at its existing plants including concentrate plant in Cairo.

Coca-Cola is also planning to establish three new plants in Pakistan.

To be located in Karachi, Multan and Islamabad, the plants will produce sparkling drinks such as Coke, Fanta and Sprite.

Coca-Cola has also spent $20m on a site in the Palestinian Gaza Strip, to set up a new bottling plant, which is expected to become operational in the first quarter of 2015.

Coca-Cola Middle East and North Africa president Curt Ferguson was quoted by Reuters as saying that Egypt is going to be one of the company’s key anchor countries.

"For sure the other key anchor will be Pakistan," added Ferguson.

Image: The Coca-Cola Company corporate headquarters in Atlanta, Georgia. Photo: courtesy of Autiger.