Coca-Cola generates $3.6 billion in COMESA
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Pmldaily
The Coca-Cola system generated $3.6 billion in economic activity and supported more than 458,200 jobs in COMESA economies in 2024. It also bought nearly $1.5 billion worth of goods and services from regional suppliers, according to a Steward Redqueen study presented at the COMESA forum in Harare.
The Coca-Cola system generated $3.6 billion in value-added economic activity across the 21 COMESA countries in 2024 and supported more than 458,200 direct and indirect jobs. The figures come from a study by consultancy Steward Redqueen published by Coca-Cola and presented on 20 October at the 19th COMESA Business Forum in Harare, Pmldaily reports.
The system, which includes Coca-Cola’s bottlers, suppliers, distributors and retailers, accounted for about 0.3% of COMESA’s combined gross domestic product. It also purchased nearly $1.5 billion worth of goods and services from suppliers in member countries, particularly in sugar production, manufacturing, packaging and logistics, according to the study.
The jobs recorded cover agriculture, manufacturing, retail, transport and services. Luis Felipe Avellar, president of Coca-Cola’s African operating unit, said that every direct job created by the group supported 28 others in the regional economy, Pmldaily reports.
The company also highlighted its Africa Water Stewardship Initiative, a programme worth nearly $25 million aimed at addressing water-related problems in 20 African countries by 2030. The amount allocated to COMESA countries and the results already achieved were not detailed in the study presented at the forum.
