Coca-Cola, Common Services Centers sign MoU for rural outreach

NEW DELHI: Beverage maker Coca-Cola has announced a partnership with Common Services Centers (CSC) under Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to list its products on CSC’s Grameen eStore platform, a move aimed at enabling availability of affordable, essential hydration to rural communities.

A statement issued by the company said the exercise will promote availability of products at doorsteps in rural India through local entrepreneurs and e-kirana stores.

In the pilot phase, Coca-Cola’s portfolio of products will be listed on Grameen eStore across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, the company said.

“CSC and Coca-Cola’s partnership serves the dual purpose of providing last mile connectivity of essential hydration to citizens’ doorsteps, as well as promoting rural entrepreneurship and

building livelihoods by mapping supply points to Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLEs),” Coca-Cola said in a statement.

T. Krishnakumar, president, Coca-Cola India and Southwest Asia said: “This move underscores our long-term commitment towards creating a sustainable business in India.”