Azerbaijani firm invests about $60 million in Tatarstan
By Vusala Abbasova
The Azerbaijani company Benkons Group is investing 4 billion rubles ($61.45 million) in the construction of a juice production plant in the Laishevskiy municipal region of Tatarstan, Russia.
The plant will specialize in the production of natural juices from organic fruits and is expected to begin operating in early 2017, according to the Tatarstan Investment Development Agency (TIDA).
The project capacity is at minimum 53.8 million liters per annum. More than 250 jobs will be created in Tatarstan as a result of the new initiative.
A ceremony devoted to the beginning of plant construction was attended by the President of the Republic of Tatarstan, Rustam Minnikhanov on October 7.
At the ceremony, Minnikhanov said that this large project, which has no precedents in the Republic, is of significant importance for the country, especially for its producers, as they will be able to supply the needed primary products.
In turn, Benkons Group Commercial Director Elin Zalov noted that the Azerbaijani company plans to supply products from Tatarstan not only to the Russian market but also to China and some other Asian countries. He also added that it expects to use commodities from Tatar agricultural producers as the raw materials for the production of juices and juice drinks.
Zalov added that the company expects to recoup its investments in the enterprise and logistics centre over the next 8-10 years.
Benkons Group acquired a land area of 75 hectares in Tatarstan, 12 hectares of which are being used for the project. In the future, the company expects to expand production and implement new investment projects in the Republic.
The decision to implement the project was accepted in accordance with an agreement signed during a visit by Tatarstan Investment Development Agency Chief Executive Taliya Minullina to Baku in December 2014.
This project was presented to the President of Tatarstan at the Board of the Agency on February 3, 2015, after which the Benkons Group company and TIDA signed a cooperation agreement.
The Benkons Group includes several companies – Benkons Import, Benkons Export, Benkons Construction – that now occupy significant positions in various industries.
Benkons Import is one of the major importers of consumer goods in Azerbaijan. They have partnership agreements in more than 30 countries worldwide, most of which are distribution contracts. Since 2011, the company has been a strategic partner of PepsiCo International and maintains a franchise in the production and distribution of soda in Azerbaijan for brands such as as Pepsi, PepsiLight, Mirinda, MountainDew, AcquaMinerale, Lipton, IceTea.
Benkons Construction company has a special place in the construction sector; it has practical experience in the design and construction of administrative, office, residential, industrial buildings, and offers a full range of services (from the development of concepts and technological solutions to construction and installation and the commissioning of the facility). Benkons Construction company is also a distributor of panels and black metal construction materials, display refrigerators and equipment for supermarkets.
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