On September 13, 2024, Coca-Cola İçecek A.Ş. (CCI), a Turkish multinational beverage company, whose majority shareholder is Anadolu Group, operating in 12 countries with 33 bottling plants and 3 fruit processing plants and employing more than 10,000 people, inaugurated its third new state-of-the-art production plant in Shymkent, Kazakhstan, after Astana and Bereke. The investment of approximately 53 million euros (27 billion tenge) represents an important milestone in CCI’s vision to be the best FMCG company in its markets. By establishing a strong presence in Kazakhstan, CCI has reinforced its commitment to creating sustainable value for the people of Kazakhstan.

The opening ceremony was attended by many distinguished guests, including the Akim of Shymkent, Gabit Syzdykbekov; the Consul General of the Republic of Türkiye in Turkistan, Ilker Pak; the Consul General of the United States of America, Michelle Yerkin; business partners, universities and members of the media.

The new plant, which covers an area of 16 hectares and is equipped with two production lines, will increase CCI’s annual production capacity by approximately 30 %. It is located in the “Zhuldyz” industrial zone in Shymkent and will create 150 new jobs.

CCI’s regional director for Central Asia and the Caucasus, Erdinç Güzel, expressed his gratitude to the government, the Shymkent Akimat and the local community for their support. He highlighted the company’s economic impact, stating, “As a market leader, I am proud to say that, to date, CCI has invested more than 106 billion tenge in the country since 1994, and this plant is a testament to CCI’s commitment to its investment plans. In return, Kazakhstan has today become one of ITC’s leading operations. This achievement was made possible by the favorable and fair business environment created by the Kazakh government. Since 2013, CCI’s contribution in taxes and other mandatory payments to the Kazakh budget has amounted to 259 billion tenge, and the total contribution of our ecosystem to Kazakhstan’s GDP reached 475 billion tenge.”

Güzel noted that the investment will also contribute to overall socio-economic growth, in line with ITC’s 2030 sustainability commitments. The new production plant will integrate advanced technologies to significantly reduce its environmental impact. In addition, the project will introduce innovative initiatives and development programs aimed at benefiting the surrounding communities.

As a pioneer in foreign investment in Kazakhstan, our ecosystem supports more than 13,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities. CCI’s socio-economic contributions in Kazakhstan and its transparent operation have also received numerous prestigious awards and recognitions, including the Best Contributor Award, the Paryz Presidential Award, the KGIR Award and the State Award for Social Responsibility.

About Coca-Cola İçecek (CCI)

CCI is a multinational beverage company operating in Türkiye, Pakistan, Kazakhstan, Iraq, Uzbekistan, Bangladesh, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan, Jordan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Syria. CCI produces, distributes and sells carbonated and non-carbonated beverages of The Coca-Cola Company and Monster Energy Beverage Corporation, along with the production of fruit juice concentrate through its affiliate Anadolu Etap İçecek (Anadolu Etap Penkon Gıda ve İçecek Ürünleri Sanayi ve Ticaret Anonim Şirket). CCI employs more than 10,000 people, has a total of 33 bottling plants and 3 fruit processing plants in 12 countries, offering a wide range of beverages to a population base of 600 million people. In addition to carbonated beverages, its product portfolio includes juices, waters, sports and energy drinks, iced teas and coffee. CCI’s shares are listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (BIST) under the symbol “CCOLA.IS”.