On the morning of March 6, 2009, the opening ceremony of “Coca-Cola global innovation and technology center & China Regional Headquarters” was grandly held in Zizhu Science-based Industrial Park. Dengjie Tang, Deputy Mayor of Shanghai Municipal Government, Lin sha， chairman of Shanghai Association of Enterprises with Foreign Investment, Hailin Sha, deputy secretary-general of Shanghai Municipal government and director of Shanghai Municipal commission of Commerce, Jinping Liu, inspector of Shanghai Municipal commission of Commerce, Jin Chen, deputy secretary of CPC Minhang District Committee and chief of the District, vice chief Xiangmin Cheng, Mr. Muhtar Kent, President and CEO of the Coca-Cola Company, Alex Cummings, Chief Administrative Officer and Executive Vice President, Mr.Glenn Jordan, Group President of Coca-Cola Pacific Group Office, Mr.Doug Jackson, President of Coca-Cola China, Mr. Bilal Kaafarani, SVP of Global Research and Innovation, Ms. Kristen Anderson, GM of Global Research and Pacific Development, Wen Shen, General Manager of the Park and Gordon Xia, executive general manager attended the ceremony.
Mr.Muhtar Kent remarked at the ceremony, noting that “Coca－Cola has invested as much as 1.6 billion US dollars in China since it returned to China in 1979. Coca－Cola is deeply proud of being China’s long-term partner and has kept its promise. In the coming three years, Coca－Cola will invest 2 billion US dollars to develop new markets, construct new factories, explore retailing channels and conduct R & D activities. The newly finished Coca-Cola Global Innovation and Technology Center will take its new innovation achievements more quickly to Chinese customers.”
Entrusted by Zhengsheng Yu, secretary of CPC Shanghai Municipal Committee, Dengjie Tang extended congratulations to the opening of Coca-Cola Global Innovation and Technology Center and China Regional Headquarters on behalf of Zhengsheng Yu and vice mayor Zheng Han. Tang indicated that “Coca-Cola has been actively involving itself in China’s reform and opening process since it returned to China 30 years ago. The new headquarters manifests its determination to integrate into the development of Shanghai and China at large.” Jin Chen noted in his address that “the completion of Coca-Cola Global Innovation and Technology Centre and China Regional Headquarters demonstrates world-renowned multinationals’ firm confidence in the economic development in Minhang District, in Shanghai as well as in China.”
With a total investment of 90,000,000 US dollars, over 600 working staff and world class equipment, the technology center is Coca-Cola’s biggest and most advanced R & D center away from America. It will incredibly enhance Coca-Cola’s R & D capability in China and Asia-Pacific Region.
