Cola-Cola is to invest US$46m in its Indian operations to develop business in the southern states of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala, the Hindu Business Line reported today.


Coca-Cola India chief executive Alex von Behr was quoted as saying that the new investments will be for capacity expansion of existing plants, developing infrastructure and expanding distribution networks.


Von Behr said the south had attracted the investment because of its high potential for growth. In particular Tamil Nadu has emerged as a key market for bottled water because of the poor quality of drinking water in the region.