The Nigerian Bottling Company (NBC), has restated its commitment to Nigerian business environment growth with investment.
The company stated this during the visit of the minister of industry, trade, and investment, Doris Nkiruka Uzoka-Anite to the NBC.
This visit highlights the government’s proactive efforts to create an enabling environment that supports and accelerates the growth of manufacturing enterprises in the country.
Highlighting the importance of the real sector to the sustainable development of the Nigerian economy, the minister engaged the NBC team on pertinent issues shaping the landscape of manufacturing in the country.
Uzoka-Anite said, “We are most delighted to be at NBC today and recognize its rich history in Nigeria which spans over 70 years. Our visit today is in line with President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to promote industrialisation in the country. We are committed to ensuring we create the enabling environment for businesses to thrive and grow. We are passionate about reducing poverty and ensuring that we support economic growth with the appropriate fiscal policies.”
She further reiterated the ministry’s commitment to open dialogue and collaborative efforts with key players in the private sector to address challenges and explore opportunities for growth – stressing the need to drive economic prosperity through public private sector partnership.
The managing director of NBC, Goran Sladic, stated that, “we are thrilled at the opportunity to host the Minister and appreciate the government’s commitment to engaging with industry stakeholders. We are encouraged by the discussions we had with the minister and her team today and believe that it is a significant step towards building a more resilient and sustainable industry, and we are eager to contribute to the ongoing dialogues and initiatives.”
He added that, “this past decade has been a testament to our unwavering dedication to placing consumers at the core of our operations. Within the last decade, the Coke system has made a substantial investment of $1.32 billion, enhancing our operational capacity, revolutionising our supply chain infrastructure, and providing extensive training to our workforce.”
According to Sladic, “Our commitment has extended beyond our products to encompass a wide range of community initiatives, focusing on empowering women and youth, championing water stewardship, and promoting environmental sustainability and efficient waste management. Marking our 70th anniversary, we reinforced our pledge to Nigeria with a €1 million donation, aimed at driving impactful social programs across eight states.”
He affirmed NBC’s ongoing commitment to invest in their Nigerian operations and expressed optimism that favourable business conditions would bolster their capabilities and facilitate further investments.
