According to reports in the Indian press, the soft drinks giant, Coca-Cola, is planning to invest around $100m in India in the coming year, with some $45m earmarked for south India. Vice president of Hindustan Coca-Cola Beverages, Deepak Mehrothra, was quoted as saying that many states had expressed interest in various projects being planned, though none had been shortlisted so far.

Mehrothra was also quoted as saying that the company was actively considering setting up a tender coconut water manufacturing unit in Kerala provided that the “right environment, technology and location were available”.