Cadbury India signs MoU with Andhra Pradesh Government

Cadbury India, part of Mondelēz International, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Government of Andhra Pradesh to set up its largest manufacturing plant in the Asia-Pacific region in the state. The proposed plant will be spread across 134 acres of land at Sri City. It will be commissioned in four phases, the first phase with investment of Rs.1,000 crores will be functional by mid-2015. The whole project is expected to be completed by 2020 and the plant, in the end state, will have an annual capacity of 250,000 tons.

The MoU was signed in the presence of the Sri N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at a ceremony in Hyderabad today. Also present were Dr (Smt) Geeta Reddy, Hon’ble Minister of Major Industries, Andhra Pradesh and Manu Anand, Managing Director, Cadbury India Limited among other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Sri N. Kiran Kumar Reddy, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh said, “I am very happy to note that M/s. Cadbury India Ltd. have decided to invest in Andhra Pradesh. We are happy to invite M/s. Cadbury India to Andhra Pradesh for setting up their largest manufacturing plant in Asia-Pacific region. The proposed plant will be completed in four phases and will ultimately generate employment to about 1600 persons.

“Over the last few years, the pro-active industry friendly policies of the State Government have been widely appreciated by national and international investors. I am sure, 

“The Harvard Business Review in its recent report, rated Andhra Pradesh as the “most investment- friendly State in India” and the State has been chosen for the “Investment Driven Economics Award” for 2012. Further, rapid industrial growth has taken place across the State and Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Mahabubnagar, Medak and Chittoor-Nellore region which are becoming the nerve centres for the manufacturing sector in the country,” he added.

The Chief Minister also said, “The MNCs in Andhra Pradesh like Johnson & Johnson, Isuzu Motors and Greenply have confirmed their investments amounting to Rs 3,350 crores with employment of 8,300 people. Other MNCs such as Sumitomo Corporation, Pepsi Co, and Mahindra and Mahindra, Vittal Innovation including Cadbury India Ltd., with investment of Rs. 9,300 crores and employment to 7,700, are in the advanced stage of negotiations.”

Manu Anand, President, India and South Asia, Mondelez International and Managing Director, Cadbury India, said, “We are delighted to be investing in Andhra Pradesh and partnering with a state that has a progressive approach to industry. Key factors for our choosing Andhra Pradesh was a favourable business environment, facilities and infrastructure at Sri City, access to a great workforce and the support of the Government. This plant will help us build on our success in India and ensure long-term business sustainability. We would like to thank the government of Andhra Pradesh and look forward to partnering with the state in the years to come.”

Post completion, the facility will operate with High Performance Work Systems, which drive production efficiencies, energy saving, emission reduction and community involvement. The multi-category manufacturing plant is expected to provide employment to about 1600 people in its end state. The company already has plants in Himachal Pradesh, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh.