Pepsico opens Rs. 814 crore plant in Mathura, UP after wrapping up business in Kerala
Despite the pandemic, PepsiCo was only able to open a food plant in less than two years because of the state’s newly introduced industry-friendly policies and reforms like labour regulation, single-window clearance, timely online approvals, and enhanced infrastructure including road and power.
On Wednesday, UP CM Yogi Adityanath inaugurated the leading global food and beverage company, PepsiCo’s largest greenfield foods plant in India, worth Rs 814 crore in Mathura.
The state-of-the-art plant goes in sync with the Uttar Pradesh government’s industrialisation-led growth agenda, and will be spread across over 29 acres of land, with a total investment of Rs 814 crore, benefiting over 5,000 farmers and providing 1,500 direct and indirect job opportunities, reserving at least 30% of these jobs for women.
In the same month last year, PepsiCo decided to close its production unit in Palakkad, Kerala due to alleged labour unrest and lockout. The unit had established in 2001 at the industrial belt Kanjikode and was engaged in packaged drinking water and soft drinks under Pepsi brand.
Similarly, in 2004, Coke ended its operations in the same district following mass protests against pollution and overexploitation of groundwater.
Speaking at the inauguration of the facility, Yogi Adityanath said, “Uttar Pradesh has taken rapid strides in becoming Atmanirbhar by focusing on reforms and industry-friendly policies. All such efforts have led to UP being ranked No. 2 in ease of doing business in India leading to greater employment opportunities and an increase in farmer incomes.”
Uttar Pradesh’s new industry-friendly policies and reforms like labour regulation, single-window clearance, timely online approvals, and enhanced infrastructure including road and power, are the major reasons for such huge investments in just one term of Yogi Adityanath’s government.
Ahmed ElSheikh, President, PepsiCo India, said,”The support of the UP government and the local administration has been instrumental in the commissioning of our state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in less than two years. We are proud to strengthen our ’Unnati Ki Sajhedhari’ with the state of Uttar Pradesh.”
“This partnership is a live testimony of the New India Progressive and Inclusive,” he asserted.
In a similar blow to the Kerala government not too long ago, Kitex Garments (the biggest private-sector employer in Kerala), also had announced withdrawal from a Rs 3,500 crore investment project, alleging an incessant witch hunt by the government.
Kitex Group Chairman Sabu Jacob spoke to CM Yogi during a media interaction and being highly impressed by business friendly policies, handling of Covid & law & order in UP, he said,”Any investor is looking for peace of mind. UP is the second top business-friendly state and in a short time, the state has achieved a lot on the business side and that too by becoming number two in India. Hopefully, I expect, in another few years UP is going to be number one.”
Uttar Pradesh has become the heart of world’s & India’s investment despite the pandemic, it attracted ₹57,000 crores from companies around the globe, these have been discussed in length in our previous article.
Uttar Pradesh has introduced reforms on a war footing basis and a culture of efficiency in public service is being displayed in various levels of administration, and such news is just a reassurance of the overall development of the state.
