Starbucks plans to open its first global center of excellence in Chennai, hiring 800 employees

At the 26th China International Fair for Investment and Trade (CIFIT), which opened on September 8 in Xiamen, a coastal city in Fujian province in southeastern China, a new venue with expanded exhibition space was used for the first time.

This year, the fair attracted over 1200 delegations from 129 countries and regions, as well as 30 international organizations. The exhibition area increased to 200,000 square meters compared to 120,000 square meters last year.

For the first time at the fair, Finland and Saudi Arabia were presented as double guest of honor, and Guangdong and Qinghai as double honorary provinces.

This year, coffee became a new channel of interaction at the fair, indicating the strengthening of ties between BRICS countries. The event coincided with the 52nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Brazil, as well as the Year of Chinese and Brazilian Culture, elevating BRICS cooperation to a high level of the agenda.

As economic and trade interaction between BRICS countries continues to deepen, coffee trade has become a vivid example of this partnership. In 2025, China imported 1.12 million bags of Brazilian coffee (60 kilograms per bag), which is 19.5% more than the previous year, making China one of the top ten destinations for Brazilian coffee exports.

The Chinese coffee chain Luckin Coffee, in collaboration with the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), opened the China-Brazil pavilion at CIFIT dedicated to cooperation within BRICS. This is the second consecutive year that Luckin has served as the exclusive coffee brand of the fair. The pavilion showcased the latest results of China-Brazil cooperation in coffee and cultural exchange within BRICS.

Victor Kierosh, ApexBrasil's chief representative for the Asia-Pacific region, noted that Brazilian coffee beans reach Chinese consumers, bringing with them the taste of Brazilian culture. He added that coffee shops with Brazilian themes have already opened in Shenzhen and Shanghai, and more such establishments are planned to open.

Gao Jinni, co-founder and CEO of Luckin, stated that 'most major coffee-growing regions in the world are located in BRICS countries.' He also announced that the company directly purchases coffee from producing countries and intends to buy more from other BRICS members, including Brazil, Ethiopia, and Indonesia. These beans will reach Chinese consumers through the company's stores, which Gao viewed as a deepening of cooperation among BRICS countries.

PepsiCo, a major global food and beverage producer, expresses optimism regarding India, aiming for the country to be included in the list of ten largest global markets in the coming years. This expectation is based on growing consumption potential and increasing production presence in the country.

The company's CEO for India and South Asia, Jagrute Kotecha, stated on Thursday that the company remains 'very optimistic' about India's growth potential. He noted that investments of approximately 570 billion rupees are planned by 2030 to expand capacities and strengthen regional presence.

As part of its expansion, PepsiCo opened its fifth manufacturing facility in Nalbari, Assam, on Thursday, investing 77.8 billion rupees in it. Earlier this year, the company launched a concentrate production plant in Ujjain, Madhya Pradesh, and plans to open a factory in Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, to strengthen its presence in South India.

Responding to a PTI query about India's possible inclusion in the top 10 markets, Kotecha confirmed that this aligns with the company's vision. PepsiCo believes in India's potential in both the food and beverage segments, where the New York-headquartered company operates. He added that the low per capita consumption of packaged goods compared to other markets is one reason for this optimism.

India is among PepsiCo's 13 key markets globally. In 2025, PepsiCo India's turnover reached 978.9 billion rupees. The bottling business is operated by franchise partner Varun Beverages, whose own revenue (mainly from India) reached 150.707 billion rupees.

The company emphasized that its approach to operating in India will not be uniform, as it will take into account regional tastes and preferences, working across '7 or 9 geographical regions of India' depending on taste profiles. Kotecha stated that all efforts are directed towards producing 'in India, for India, by Indians, for the Indian consumer.'

Regarding export opportunities, the focus will remain on the domestic market, which has great potential, although some supplies will continue to neighboring countries such as Bhutan and Sri Lanka. Kotecha clarified that the entire capacity, including the concentrate plant in Ujjain and the food plant, is intended for India.

The new 44.2-acre facility in Assam is the company's fifth food manufacturing site in the country. It supports the 'Progress Partnership' and 'In India, for India' commitments. The Nalbari plant created 700 direct and indirect jobs and, according to PepsiCo, is expected to accelerate the growth of local SMEs and related industries, while supporting over 5,000 farmers through potato demand in the coming years.