Muttiah Muralitharan, the celebrated Sri Lankan cricketer, met with Karnataka’s Industries Minister, MB Patil, to discuss plans for the significant expansion of his soft drink manufacturing business in the state.
Muralitharan, who has already established a greenfield unit for soft drink production in the Badanaguppe industrial area of Chamarajanagar, initially committed an investment of Rs 1,000 crore. However, in light of new strategic goals, he announced plans to boost this investment to Rs 1,400 crore. The expansion aims to enhance production capabilities and tap into the burgeoning beverage market in India.
During the meeting, which was also attended by S. Selva Kumar, Principal Secretary of Industries, and Gunjan Krishna, the Commissioner for Industries, Muralitharan discussed the coordination required to expedite the project. The former cricket star emphasized his dedication to the Chamarajanagar project and reiterated his commitment to a parallel initiative in Dharwad focused on manufacturing beverage cans.
Muralitharan’s venture represents a significant cross-border business investment, highlighting the potential for sports figures to impact the industrial landscape. The expansion is expected to create numerous job opportunities and contribute to the economic development of the region.
The Industries Department of Karnataka welcomed Muralitharan’s increased investment, noting the potential benefits to the local economy and the state’s industrial growth.