Pepsico to set up its first food manufacturing plant in Assam’s Nalbari

Assam chief minister Himanta Biswa Sarma performed the ‘bhumi pujan’ for beverage and food manufacturing giant PepsiCo’s first food manufacturing plant in the northeast at Nalbari, marking another private investment milestone in the state.
Sarma wrote on X, “Assam extends a warm welcome to business opportunities! We marked the beginning of a Rs 770 cr PepsiCo plant in Nalbari. This will generate 450+ jobs & improve lives of 5000+ farmers. With Rs 12,000 cr private investments on the horizon, we are poised for a bright future!”
Sarma later told media that in the past few months MoUs for investments worth over Rs 8,000 crore have been signed and project works of Rs 7,500 crore have already started. “Very soon we will be signing MoUs for investments worth another Rs 3000 to Rs 4000 crore,” he said.
The PepsiCo greenfield plant will be spread over an area of over 44 acres at Banekuchi and is expected to give a boost to local farmers through improved technology, high-quality seeds and disease control measures.
Sarma said PepsiCo will procure 1.5 MT of potatoes from the state’s farmers, which will strengthen the state’s agri-economy.
Plant will boost farmers’ income
I appeal to the people of Assam to extend all possible support to the new industries that are investing in our State. Your support is vital for us to industrialise Assam!” he wrote on X.
PepsiCo India has signed a tripartite MoU with Assam Skill Development Mission and directorate of employment and craftsmen training for fostering women empowerment and creating a safe and supportive work environment to enhance women employability in the region, the company stated.
It added, “The plant targets to intake 100 per cent diverse talent and aims at least 75% women representation and intends to set up its first Community Learning Centre at Women’s ITI campus, Nalbari to upskill women over the next two years.”
The company stated that it will also provide farmers with growth opportunities by using technology, high-quality seeds and affordable machinery with the goal of sourcing potatoes from the state, to produce its iconic brand of Lay’s chips.
The plant will also generate demand for cold storage capacity of 60,000 tonnes over the next few years, it added.
Source: Indiatimes