In a historic development for the North East, Meghalaya marked a major milestone with the inauguration of the region’s largest PepsiCo bottling plant in Mendipathar Industrial Area, Resubelpara. The ₹340 crore facility, developed by Varun Beverages Limited (VBL), is the first major industrial unit in the area since it was conceptualised in the 1990s.
The inauguration event witnessed the presence of several key dignitaries, including Deputy Speaker Timothy D. Shira, Power Minister A.T. Mondal, PHE Minister Marcuise Marak, MIDC Chairman James K. Sangma, and several Members of the Legislative Assembly.
After 30 years of anticipation, the vision of late leader P.A. Sangma to transform Mendipathar into an industrial hub has finally taken shape. Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma, who inaugurated the plant, described the event as the fulfilment of a long standing dream. He expressed gratitude to the local Nokmas and residents who had donated land nearly three decades ago, making this transformation possible.
Jobs and New Opportunities for Locals
The newly established bottling unit will employ nearly 500 people, directly contributing to job creation and economic development in the North Garo Hills. In addition to manufacturing PepsiCo’s beverages, including fruit based juices, the plant is expected to generate ancillary businesses.
Sangma noted that this industrial unit would give rise to secondary opportunities for localssuch as providing services, accommodation, and logistics support to the plant staff and management. This will slowly lead to the emergence of new businesses in the region, he added.
Fast Construction and Strong Leadership
Varun Beverages Limited completed the massive project in a record time of 11 months. Aimed for nine months, the minor delay was still met with admiration for the speed and scale of execution. The project owes its rapid completion to the leadership of Ravikant Jaipuria, chairman of VBL, who is credited for being a visionary with operational networks across Asia and Africa.
The Chief Minister noted that Ravikant Jaipuria was disappointed the project took 11 months instead of the planned 9 months, reflecting his strict focus on deadlines and timely execution. He highlighted that this attitude demonstrates Varun Beverages Limited’s strong commitment to efficiency and excellence.
Improving Supply in the Northeast
The new plant marks a strategic move by Varun Beverages to enhance its operational capacity in India’s underserved northeastern markets. It will help streamline logistics and distribution in the region, boosting PepsiCo’s market presence and ensuring faster supply chain response. The company’s broader goal is to improve efficiency while tapping into high-growth potential areas like Meghalaya and surrounding states.
More Plants Coming Soon
During his speech, Chief Minister Sangma also revealed that another industrial facility is nearing completion in the Tikrikilla-Bajengdoba area, with about 90% of construction already finished. This indicates the government’s growing focus on turning Meghalaya into a manufacturing and industrial investment destination.
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