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Coca-Cola makes Somalia return

A new bottling plant has opened in the Somali capital Mogadishu.

It is the largest single investment in the country since central government collapsed 13 years ago, and is a sign of growing business confidence.

More than 500 people attended the opening of the Coca-Cola plant, whose forerunner was destroyed in the early 90s.

The absence of a central government and continuing lawlessness in Somalia has, until now, deterred investors.

The old Coke plant was destroyed at the beginning of the country's civil war.

But the relative calm of the last few years has encouraged Somalis living overseas to put more money back into the country.

The man behind the Coca-Cola factory, AbdiRisak Isse, told the BBC that the opening was a big day, not just for him but for the whole of Somalia.

'Automatic rifles'

"This is the beginning of a new era for Somalia," Mr Isse said, "This is the turning point. Somalia is normal and anybody can do business here.

"We need to work for to make the security better, and we want to create investment confidence in this country, and we need so many people to come back to their home country and do business here."

Other businesses have sprung up already, such as mobile phone companies, internet cafés and radio stations.

But conditions are tough.

Mogadishu's main airport and sea port have been closed for years because of rivalries between clan-based militias.

The Somali capital's roads have disintegrated and there is no mains electricity.

It is a sign of how insecure Mogadishu remains that the new Coca-Cola factory has more than 100 security staff, many of them armed with automatic rifles.

Posted by thinkum at July 5, 2004 12:20 PM