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Zvamaida Murwira
Senior Reporter

11.53 – President Mnangagwa is this morning expected to commission the Varun Beverages Expansion Project in Ardbennie area, Harare.

The company, which has been operating in the country since 2018, is one of the largest bottling company spreading its wings across the globe.

It has over the years been embarking on a series of strategic expansion projects both in Zimbabwe and far afield as it seeks to maintain and enhance its growth momentum.

Over the years, it has scaled up operations and explored new markets.

President Mnangagwa’s visit to commission the expansion project gives impetus to the Second Republic’s commitment to the attainment of an upper middle-class income economy by 2030.

11.54 – The ceremony to mark the expansion project has commenced.
The national anthem has been played as well as prayers setting the stage for the official commencement of the programme. Varun Beverages is one of the largest bottling companies in the country whose footnote is difficult to resist as it has claimed a significant market share when it entered in Zimbabwe in 2018. It has asserted its presence in the market with a pronounced availability of its products.

11.54 – Harare Minister commends Varun for employment creation
Minister of State for Provincial Affairs and Devolution responsible for Harare Province, Cde Charles Tawengwa is now on the podium to deliver his welcome remarks.
He commended Varun Beverages Pvt Ltd for its continued commitment to invest in Zimbabwe.
Minister Tawengwa said these investments have led to the creation of 20 000 jobs, both directly and indirectly.

11.55 – Who is Varun Beverages?
Varun Beverages is one of the largest bottling companies in the country. It manufactures, bottles, and distributes beverages.
Their footnote is difficult to resist as it claimed a significant market share when it entered Zimbabwe in 2018.
It has asserted its presence in the market with a pronounced availability of its products.
The company produces and distributes brands like Pepsi, Mirinda, 7up, Mountain Dew, Slice, Aquafina and Sting, among others.

11.55 – Varun Beverages Pvt Ltd Zimbabwe Chief Executive officer, Mr Vijay Bahl is now delivering his speech whose focus is on an overview of the firm’s trajectory, the journey they have traveled since its inception, and the various initiatives they are spearheading in the country.
He commended President Mnangagwa for his leadership which has given impetus to the company’s growth.
He said they will be producing snacks from the new plant and they will be exporting them to seven countries. He said they are producing millions of drinks for the Zimbabwean market which has less population than the number of drinks they were producing.

12.11- Indian ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Bumha Kumar takes his turn on stage. India is where Varun Beverages is headquartered but it has spread its business wings to far afield as it consolidates its market share in the global market.
The diplomat congratulates President Mnangagwa for assuming the Sadc chairmanship and commends him for successfully convening an Extraordinary summit for the regional bloc. He outlines several areas of cooperation that the two countries have enjoyed in various sectors.

12.14 – Varun Beverages chairperson, Mr Ravi Kant Jaipura has taken his turn on stage and he says his firm was particular in observing an environment friendly working place. He said they have equally been responsive in giving back to the community that it is operating in through its array of social responsibility activities. He said 10 000 pushcarts have been deployed in the market to sell its products. The firm, he said, has taken several students from local universities to train them.   Varun pledges to be kind to the environment and create more employment Varun Beverages chairperson, Mr Ravi Kant Jaipura is now on the stage and he says his firm has an environment-friendly working place. He said they have equally been responsive in giving back to the community that it is operating in through its array of social responsibility activities. Mr Jaipura said 10 000 pushcarts have been deployed in the market to sell its products, thereby promoting employment creation. He said at least 40 000 families are deriving benefits from Varun Beverages through pushcarts. The firm, he said, has taken several students from local universities to train them. He said the firm has directly employed 2 000 people, while 7 000 are indirectly employed. With the new expansion, more benefits are on the cards for the people of Zimbabwe.

12.15 – He said the firm has direct employment of 2 000 and indirectly employs more than 7 000. He said at least 40 000 families were deriving benefits from Varun Beverages through pushcarts. With the new expansion, he said, more benefits for the Zimbabwe community was on the cards.

12.25 – Industry and Commerce Minister Mangaliso Ndlovu is now on stage.
He said the expansion projects showed the resilience of the country’s private sector. This, he said, showed that Zimbabwe was on the appropriate trajectory to realise economic benefits as envisaged by the National Development Strategy 1 whose first phase is set to come to an end. He said the Inter ministerial task force set up to deal with economic bottlenecks such as easy of doing business, multiple regulation among others was now operational and was engaging the private sector. He said Varun Beverages had invested in the economy whose impact was equally being felt in rural areas.

12.27 – Indian Ambassador outlines areas of cooperation
Indian Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Mr Bumha Kumar takes his turn on stage.
India is where Varun Beverages is headquartered but it has spread its business wings to far afield as it consolidates its market share in the global market.
The diplomat congratulated President Mnangagwa for assuming the Sadc chairmanship and commended him for successfully convening an Extraordinary Summit for the regional bloc.
He outlined several areas of cooperation that the two countries have enjoyed in various sectors.

12.29 – Vice President Constantino Chiwenga now on the podium. He said the continued investment by Varun Beverages is a show of confidence to the country’s economy, as it reinforces the mantra that Zimbabwe is indeed open for business. He said President Mnangagwa was committed to a private sector led economy. The expansion project by Varun Beverages is consistent with the economic vision set forth by President Mnangagwa. It also dovetailed to Government commitment to a long term investment. VP Chiwenga ends his speech by inviting President Mnangagwa who is the guest of honour.

12.39 – President Mnangagwa says the increasing number of investment in the country’s economy is a show of confidence to the economy as it shows that his administration’s concerted efforts were bearing fruit. He applauded the role that the private sector is playing. Since 2018, he saud, Varun Beverages has shown a consistent investment in the modernisation of the country’s economy particularly in the beverages sector where there is production of carbonated drinks and water.

He said the investment by Varun Beverages will make notable impact in the economy. This dovetails to the desire to improve the economy particularly in the rural areas. The firm’s plan to go into dairy and other related products by 2025 is equally commendable. The firm’s presence has transformed the beverages and retail sector and it has led to the creation of thousand of jobs. He challenged local authorities to consistently provide enabling environment for business as foreign investors continue to invest in the country.

13.13 –  Increasing investments an indication of confidence in the economy: President Mnangagwa
President Mnangagwa has said the increasing number of investments is a show of confidence in the country’s economy.
He said this shows that his administration’s concerted efforts are bearing fruit.
The President went on to applaud the private sector for the role it is playing in building the country’s economy.
“Since 2018, Varun Beverages has been consistent in playing a part in building the country’s economy, particularly in the beverages sector where they produce carbonated drinks and water,” he said.
“The firm’s plans to go into dairy and other related products by 2025 are equally commendable. Varun’s presence has transformed the beverages and retail sector and it has led to the creation of thousands of jobs.”
Central to the Government’s agenda was value addition and beneficiation, as well as continued implementation of business-friendly policies, said President Mnangagwa.
He encouraged Varun Beverages to explore options to increase its supply of products in the region, taking advantage of Zimbabwe’s investment policies and the African Continental Free Trade Area.

13.14 – Minister Muchinguri-Kashiri commends President Mnangagwa for promoting investments
Defence Minister Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri is now delivering the vote of thanks.

She commended President Mnangagwa for his game-changing mantra “Zimbabwe is open for business,” which has seen several companies, including Varun Beverages, continuing to invest in the country.

Varun Beverages staff receive awards
President Mnangagwa is now presiding over the conferment of awards for company staff that have excelled.
The employees receiving awards are drawn from various departments, including production, IT, Human Resources, sales and marketing, among others.