Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09ASHGABAT1077
2009-08-27 10:34:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Ashgabat
Cable title:
COCA-COLA REPS SEE GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN
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C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001077
SIPDIS
SCA/CEN; EEB
COMMERCE FOR ELLEN HOUSE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV EIND EINV ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT: COCA-COLA REPS SEE GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN
TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
C O N F I D E N T I A L ASHGABAT 001077
SIPDIS
SCA/CEN; EEB
COMMERCE FOR ELLEN HOUSE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV EIND EINV ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT: COCA-COLA REPS SEE GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN
TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Representatives from Coca-Cola met with Charge on
August 26. CEO for Coca-Cola Ichecek (Beverage) in Istanbul
and Irish citizen, Michael A. O'Neil, headed a group of
businessmen with years of experience in Turkmenistan. O'Neil
recounted his time as Coca-Cola head in Russia and
Coca-Cola's close cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in
Russia, adding that the main purpose of his visit was to
build an excellent working relationship with U.S. Embassy
Ashgabat.
2. (C) O'Neil told the Charge that he is responsible for
operations in ten countries: Azerbaijan, Jordan, Iraq,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and Turkey. He explained that Coca-Cola
Ichecek is 50 percent owned by the Anadolu Group (Turkey),20
percent by Coca-Cola Export Corporation (USA),25 percent
publicly traded, and 5 percent owned by Ozgorkey Holding
(Turkey). The Coca-Cola reps reported that business in
Turkmenistan was going well, and the Turkmenistan plant just
received a new Kazakh line of business which would triple the
plant's production. At the same time, the Coca-Cola
Turkmenistan Plant General Manager, Kadir Uslu, lamented the
poor state of Turkmen vocational education, pointing out that
highly trained mechanics, electricians, and electrical
engineers were scarce in Turkmenistan. The Charge added that
finding qualified elevator and air conditioning mechanics to
service the many tall, white-marble buildings springing up
all over Ashgabat has also been a real challenge.
3. (C) Coca-Cola Turkmenistan President, Mehmet Uslu, the
brother of the Coca-Cola Turkmenistan General Operations
Manager, told Charge that he had lived in Turkmenistan for
almost 17 years and even holds a Turkmen passport. He
stressed that the Turkmen business climate for foreign
companies has improved somewhat since Niyazov died, but the
current government is also very unpredictable. To illustrate
this unpredictability, Uslu recounted that his home in the
Ashgabat neighborhood of Berzengi was to be bulldozed this
week, and the government gave him a only a few days notice to
move out. Despite government unpredictability, the Coke reps
continue to see growing opportunities for Coca-Cola in
Turkmenistan. They added that President Berdimuhamedov is a
fan of Coca-Cola, drinking it publicly at official occasions,
despite the fact that he is a dentist by trade.
4. (C) COMMENT. As Coca-Cola representatives described
hurdles to doing business with the GOTX, the Charge reminded
them that Turkmenistan is an autocratic state, and the
proverbial buck does stop with the President. At the same
time, the Charge noted that Turkmenistan is adapting slowly
but surely to the world around them, and that there are
business opportunities for companies with thick skins and a
willingness to adapt to unpredictability. Coca-Cola
representatives invited Economic Officer to visit the local
bottling plant in September and reiterated that Coca-Cola
considers U.S. embassies its strongest advocates, especially
in unpredictable countries like Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.
MILES
SIPDIS
SCA/CEN; EEB
COMMERCE FOR ELLEN HOUSE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/26/2019
TAGS: PGOV EIND EINV ECON ETRD TX
SUBJECT: COCA-COLA REPS SEE GROWING OPPORTUNITIES IN
TURKMENISTAN
Classified By: Charge Richard Miles, reasons 1.4 (b) and (d).
1. (C) Representatives from Coca-Cola met with Charge on
August 26. CEO for Coca-Cola Ichecek (Beverage) in Istanbul
and Irish citizen, Michael A. O'Neil, headed a group of
businessmen with years of experience in Turkmenistan. O'Neil
recounted his time as Coca-Cola head in Russia and
Coca-Cola's close cooperation with the U.S. Embassy in
Russia, adding that the main purpose of his visit was to
build an excellent working relationship with U.S. Embassy
Ashgabat.
2. (C) O'Neil told the Charge that he is responsible for
operations in ten countries: Azerbaijan, Jordan, Iraq,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgystan, Pakistan, Syria, Tajikistan,
Turkmenistan, and Turkey. He explained that Coca-Cola
Ichecek is 50 percent owned by the Anadolu Group (Turkey),20
percent by Coca-Cola Export Corporation (USA),25 percent
publicly traded, and 5 percent owned by Ozgorkey Holding
(Turkey). The Coca-Cola reps reported that business in
Turkmenistan was going well, and the Turkmenistan plant just
received a new Kazakh line of business which would triple the
plant's production. At the same time, the Coca-Cola
Turkmenistan Plant General Manager, Kadir Uslu, lamented the
poor state of Turkmen vocational education, pointing out that
highly trained mechanics, electricians, and electrical
engineers were scarce in Turkmenistan. The Charge added that
finding qualified elevator and air conditioning mechanics to
service the many tall, white-marble buildings springing up
all over Ashgabat has also been a real challenge.
3. (C) Coca-Cola Turkmenistan President, Mehmet Uslu, the
brother of the Coca-Cola Turkmenistan General Operations
Manager, told Charge that he had lived in Turkmenistan for
almost 17 years and even holds a Turkmen passport. He
stressed that the Turkmen business climate for foreign
companies has improved somewhat since Niyazov died, but the
current government is also very unpredictable. To illustrate
this unpredictability, Uslu recounted that his home in the
Ashgabat neighborhood of Berzengi was to be bulldozed this
week, and the government gave him a only a few days notice to
move out. Despite government unpredictability, the Coke reps
continue to see growing opportunities for Coca-Cola in
Turkmenistan. They added that President Berdimuhamedov is a
fan of Coca-Cola, drinking it publicly at official occasions,
despite the fact that he is a dentist by trade.
4. (C) COMMENT. As Coca-Cola representatives described
hurdles to doing business with the GOTX, the Charge reminded
them that Turkmenistan is an autocratic state, and the
proverbial buck does stop with the President. At the same
time, the Charge noted that Turkmenistan is adapting slowly
but surely to the world around them, and that there are
business opportunities for companies with thick skins and a
willingness to adapt to unpredictability. Coca-Cola
representatives invited Economic Officer to visit the local
bottling plant in September and reiterated that Coca-Cola
considers U.S. embassies its strongest advocates, especially
in unpredictable countries like Turkmenistan. END COMMENT.
MILES