Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi Limited has commissioned a $14.9 million (about K26.07 billion) production line at its Lilongwe facility, a move government and company officials say will ease pressure on foreign exchange supply and create new jobs.
The state-of-the-art Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) production line is expected to eliminate the company’s reliance on imported plastic bottles, thereby conserving scarce foreign currency and enhancing self-sufficiency in the packaging supply chain.
operations of the new plant in Lilongwe. | Nation
Speaking at the company’s production plant in Lilongwe ahead of the plant’s official inauguration by President Lazarus Chakwera, Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi Limited managing director Neil French said the investment and the reduced demand for imported bottles that will follow, will ease pressure on local foreign exchange reserves.
“The introduction of new technologies at the plant has created opportunities for Coca-Cola staff to be trained in cutting-edge skills. Our goal is to create opportunities across the value chain,” he said.
French said the technical training being provided to staff will also contribute to broader human capital development, positioning Malawian workers to take on increasingly complex roles in the manufacturing sector.
On his part, Coca Cola Beverages Africa chief executive officer Sunil Gupta said: “This investment in Malawi reaffirms the Coca Cola systems local approach where they produce locally, distribute locally, and where possible, source locally.
In his remarks, Chakwera said the plant’s commissioning shows what Malawians can accomplish if the people and organisations commit to investing the resources they have in areas with a high return on investment.
He said: “Malawi has money, but we have to be strategic on how we use it. Figures from the Reserve Bank of Malawi show that there is K19 trillion circulating in people’s mobile wallets and bank accounts.
“If we invest that money wisely, we will develop our country.”
Minister of Trade and Industry Vitumbiko Mumba hailed the investment as a firm rejection of pessimism about Malawi’s investment climate.
“At a time when others are claiming that investors cannot come to Malawi due to an unstable economic environment, Coca-Cola has invested in this plant and is on course to create jobs for Malawians,” he said.
Mumba said the development rebuffs narratives that portray Malawi as an unattractive investment destination, especially in light of ongoing fiscal and external pressures.
He also pointed to recent trade policy measures, including the government’s restrictive import regime as evidence of an improving local investment environment.
Mumba said the import restrictions introduced over the past two months are already bearing fruit.
He said: “Two local suppliers have secured contracts to supply vegetables to Shoprite and Food Lover’s Market.
“This is a sign that import substitution is possible when local capacity is given the chance to grow.”
The PET facility is part of Coca-Cola Beverages Malawi’s broader strategy to localise inputs and improve operational efficiency, aligning with Malawi’s industrialisation and job creation agenda.
Coca-Cola officials did not indicate how many jobs will be created.
The plant produces 19 200 bottles per hour in pack sizes ranging from 300 millilitre to two litres. The increase in production will facilitate the export of beverages to Zambia
The new production line uses artificial intelligence to proactively identify and resolve issues before they cause stoppages, thereby minimising downtime and reducing costs.
