Varun Beverages, one of the largest franchisees of PepsiCo in the world, has announced a $50 million investment in a state-of-the-art Pepsi production facility in Kiswishi City, the first private Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The plant – one of the largest consumer-focused foreign direct investments in DRC history – will create thousands of jobs and expand the brands of New York-based PepsiCo in the fast-growing African country.
The Pepsi beverage facility will be developed on 37 acres of land at Kiswishi City SEZ, along the N1 Highway, with easy access to the Lubumbashi's rapidly expanding population, the Haut-Katanga Province and beyond. Kiswishi is strategically positioned to enhance logistical efficiencies and economic development across the region, a growth engine for PepsiCo and Varun Beverages.
Backed by American, New Zealand, British and Norwegian investors, Kiswishi City SEZ is a project by Rendeavour, Africa's largest new city builder, whose mixed-use cities in Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia have catalyzed billions of dollars in foreign and domestic investment, along with tens of thousands of jobs for young Africans.
Kitambo credited the Special Economic Zones Authority and Ministry of Industry for creating a conducive investment environment through the country's reliable SEZ framework. Other businesses at Kiswishi City SEZ include Congo Petrol and Queen Energy. Phase one of Kiswishi's residential estate, Kimia, is 95% sold out.
