Coca-Cola Kwanza to invest Tshs 50bn in Tanzania

Former 1500m world record holder Filbert Bayi who is also the proprietor of Filbert Secondary School tells his success story as an athlete and businessman. He was invited to make a presentation at Coca-Cola Kwanza sales conference held in Dar es Salaam over the weekend.

Coca-Cola Kwanza Managing Director Basil Gadzios talks to the media on the company’s business strategies for year 2012.

 

OVER 200 Coca-Cola Kwanza staff and sales team from across the country converged at Kunduchi Beach Hotel in Dar-es-Salaam over the weekend to officially launch 2012 sales year for the Company. The sales force had an opportunity to review success and challenges of their business over the last year and charted out strategies and initiatives for this year. Addressing the conference, Coca-Cola Kwanza Managing Director Basil Gadzios reiterated the company’s commitment to continue investing in Tanzania for many years to come. The Company, he said, is investing in new lines and technology at the tune of Tshs 50 billion. He insisted that if the Tanzanian economy grows at annual rate of 7%, he sees a lot of opportunities for growing the business in Tanzania. 

 

He explained the intention of his company to invest more in its people and grow the business which will create more employment opportunities for more Tanzanians. Mr. Gadzios is the new Managing Director for Coca-Cola Kwanza, with 17 years of experience in the soft drink industry having worked in various countries such as South Africa, Sri-Lanka and neighboring Uganda. Speaking at the same occasion, Coca-Cola Kwanza’s Director of Public Affairs and Communication Evans Mlelwa singled out a number of challenges facing business in Tanzania, one of them being lack of good infrastructure. However, he acknowledged efforts being made by the government to develop regional roads. Another challenge, he explained, is high tax rates on soft drinks which make it difficult for the government to realize its revenue. He proposed for a reasonable tax rates to encourage sales of large volumes, hence bigger revenue for the Government. Invited motivational speaker Filbert Bayi, former 1500m world record holder, appealed to the sales team to exhibit high level of commitment, discipline and speed to cross the line.

 

 He was trying to relate his life as an athlete with the new initiatives being put in place by the Sales Team to address the various business challenges. Bayi commended the Coca-Cola Company the pivotal role it was playing in supporting sports in Tanzania over the years and choosing his school Filbert Bayi Secondary school to be a camping center for more that 600 players and officials for the annual Copa Coca-Cola national finals.