News Release

COCA-COLA UNVEILS BIGGEST WATER PROGRAM IN MALAWI

Malawi, May 31, 2006 - The Coca-Cola Company in Malawi and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) today unveiled a multi-million dollar project in Malawi, by far one of the biggest water programs ever undertaken by a private sector company in South Central Africa.

The project will be carried out around T/A Njema in the district. Coca-Cola is contributing US$249,781 (about K35 million), while USAID is contributing US$221,743 about (K31 million). The project will end in April next year.

The project -- which will be rolled out around the Mt Mulanje ecosystem -- will, when completed, improve supply of potable water to approximately 265,000 people through rehabilitation of gravity - fed water systems and construction of new spring box systems, and increase access to clean water and sanitations by strengthening and forming water user associations and protecting and conserving the mountain's watershed.

Working in close partnership with USAID (United States Agency for International Development) under a public-private collaboration known as the Global Community Watershed Partnership Program, the Malawi project marks the first real project that will help improve access to safe and adequate water supply and sanitation. In addition, the project will help improve irrigation technology and enhance natural environments.

Speaking during the launch of the water project, the Coca-Cola South Central Africa Community Affairs Director, Mrs. Sheree Shereni said, "By coming together to address water-related issues, The Coca-Cola Company and its partners such as USAID are maximizing their financial resources, unique strengths and experience to implement life-changing water programs. We also recognize that water is a key ingredient for our business and it is in the long-term interest of our business to be good stewards of our most critical ingredient, water. We have a shared interest with the communities where we do business to protect water resources whilst enabling greater access to water and sanitation."

The Global Community Watershed Program capitalizes on the strength and experience of each partner institution in the collaborative development and implementation of water projects. In Mali, for example, the new Coca-Cola and USAID alliance is supporting community water supply and sanitation, as well as small-scale agricultural activities using recycled waste water from the local Coca-Cola bottling plant.

The proposed activities would result in establishing institutions and mechanisms for long-term sustainability of integrated water resources management on and around Mulanje Mountain, one of the most important and threatened watersheds in Malawi.

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