Speeches

"Tomorrow's Starting Now"

Remarks by Alexander B. Cummings
Executive Vice President and Chief Administrative Officer, The Coca-Cola Company
Africare Dinner
Washington, DC
November 3, 2009

As prepared for delivery

Thank you, Ms. Martin for that kind introduction. Frank, Julius, other members of the Africare Board... members of the Africa Diplomatic Corp... members of the U.S. Congress... past award winners, including Ambassador Andrew Young... friends of Africa... good evening.

The video you just saw provides a snapshot of the actions we're taking to help make Africa a better place for all who call it home. Tonight, I'm pleased to have with me two colleagues who lead various aspects of that work: Ingrid Saunders Jones, Senior Vice President of our Global Community Connections Group and Chair of The Coca-Cola Company Foundation, and Rick Frazier, Vice President of our Global Supply Chain.

We are also honored to be joined by two men who have made a profound mark on The Coca-Cola Company, Ambassador Donald McHenry, a long-time member of our Company's Board of Directors and The Coca-Cola Africa Foundation Board... and my friend and mentor, Carl Ware, one of our former senior executives and former President of our Africa Group.

Tonight, we proudly join you in saluting a man who has made enormous contributions to Africa personally... and who has used his fame and talents to inspire countless others to get involved and make a difference. That man, of course, is John Legend.

Later this evening, we will hear John's powerful song "If you're out there."

There's a line in it that really resonates with me: "Tomorrow's starting now."

"Tomorrow's starting now" is a phrase that has a special significance for one of our hosts this evening. As many of you know, this will be Julius Coles's last Annual Dinner as Chairman as he will be retiring at the end of December.

We are grateful for Julius's leadership, wise counsel and dedication to the people of Africa. He leaves behind a strong and vital organization that's ready to advance the progress he led. It's hard to imagine any legacy more important than that.

Julius, on behalf of your friends at The Coca-Cola Company, we wish you and Jean every happiness as you start your "tomorrow."

Africa's tomorrow is something we focus a lot of time and attention on at Coca-Cola. Our belief in the continent is enduring and unshakable. We are the only multi-national with a presence in every country across the continent.

Together with our bottling partners we employ approximately 65,000 people. And, studies show that for every one job we provide we help create 10-12 indirect jobs in related industries through the materials and services we purchase.

Over the past ten years, our system has invested over $5 Billion on the continent. We're convinced that our best days in Africa are yet to come -- as a system, we plan to invest another $12 Billion in our business there by 2020.

Equally enduring and unshakable is our belief that our business can only be as healthy and sustainable as the communities in which our products are enjoyed.

As you saw in the video, we are also making substantial philanthropic investments in Africa, with a focus on four global priorities: water stewardship; active, healthy living, community recycling and education and two Africa-centric priorities: preventing HIV/AIDs and malaria and access to clean drinking water.

These investments are all part of a larger initiative we call "Live for a Difference" or "Live Positively" as it is known here in the U.S.

We're challenging ourselves to embed sustainability into everything we do so it becomes a way of life for us... to use our voice and reach to help draw awareness to the issues and to solutions that make a difference... to get involved personally and encourage others to do the same.

In closing tonight, I'd like to extend that challenge to every one of us in this room. Africa's opportunities are unmatched. Its needs are clear. Its problems are solvable. But it will take all of us to secure its economic prosperity and success.

Tomorrow's starting now.

What will you do to make it a better tomorrow for the people of Africa?

Thank you.