Nalbari, Assam: A major food manufacturing facility has begun operations in Assam’s Nalbari district, with PepsiCo India inaugurating its new plant as the state looks to expand industrial activity and build stronger links between manufacturing and agriculture.
Assam Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma inaugurated the facility, marking the completion of a project whose foundation stone he had laid in 2023. The Chief Minister described the plant as an important milestone in Assam’s industrialisation journey and said its impact would extend beyond the manufacturing sector.
A key feature of the project is its connection with Assam’s potato-growing farmers. Sarma said the facility will support approximately 5,000 local farmers by providing an assured market, strengthening the potato value chain and creating greater opportunities for agricultural producers.
The project is also notable for its workforce composition. According to the Chief Minister, more than 75 per cent of the employees at the plant are women, making women’s employment a prominent aspect of the new industrial facility.
Sarma recalled that when the project was initiated in 2023, he had spoken about its potential to generate employment for more than 500 people and benefit around 5,000 farmers. With the plant now inaugurated, he said those expectations have materialised.
The Chief Minister highlighted PepsiCo’s investment in Nalbari as another step in Assam’s efforts to attract industrial projects and develop local economic opportunities. In one of his posts, Sarma referred to the investment as ₹750 crore, while another post described the facility as a ₹778-crore plant.
The new facility is expected to reinforce Assam’s potato value chain by connecting local agricultural production with large-scale food manufacturing. Such integration can create a more organised market for farmers while supporting the wider ecosystem associated with industrial production.
PepsiCo India also marked the inauguration through an official post, describing the Nalbari facility as the beginning of a new chapter for the company. The company acknowledged the presence of Chief Minister Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma at the inauguration and highlighted the occasion as a milestone in its operations in India.
For Assam, the project represents a combination of industrial investment, employment generation and agricultural market development. The involvement of thousands of farmers alongside a predominantly women workforce gives the facility significance beyond its role as a manufacturing unit.
Sarma further indicated that the PepsiCo project is only the first among a series of industrial initiatives expected to come up in Assam. He said the state has a longer list of projects in the pipeline, signalling the government’s intention to continue pursuing industrial expansion.
The inauguration of PepsiCo’s Nalbari food plant thus marks a significant development for the district and the state, with the facility expected to contribute to manufacturing activity while creating new opportunities for farmers and local workers.
