The Pepsi Company, working to give "ever more" to young people, is now adding a new momentum to the project "Social Progress for Youth" implemented by the GAP Administration with its fresh support. The project aims at developing initiatives among youth to enhance their participation to the process of development, building social and economic skills and consolidating interaction and social cohesion by bringing young people together. In a region where youth (ages 15 - 24) unemployment is as high as 17.1 %, it is crucial to provide employment opportunities to young people by building skills.

The Pepsi signed a protocol of cooperation with the GAP Regional Development Administration to improve the employability of young people in the region. The ceremony for the protocol took place at the GAP Headquarters on April 6th 2006. The protocol signed by GAP President Muammer Yasar Özgül and Jim Zaza, head of Pepsi Bottling Group in Turkey is considered as a fresh new step in the programme "Social Progress for Youth".

In his speech, GAP President Muammer Yasar Özgül gave a brief account of the "Sustainable Development Programmes in the GAP Region" implemented in cooperation with the UNDP since 1997 to improve the situation of disadvantaged groups of population. The "Social Progress for Youth" is one of the initiatives launched under this programme to ensure young people's integration with society and the process of development. The GAP President noted that the Administration has been giving support to 8 "Youth and Culture Houses" established in the region and over 50,000 young people have been reached through the activities of these centres. GAP President Özgül said: "This programme has so far been conducted in cooperation with the UNDP and with the financial support of the Swiss Government. The programme expires in August this year. To we have to tackle the problem of sustainability in relation to Youth and Culture Houses. We thought that the cooperation of the public and private sectors could be a solution. At this point, the Pepsi did not spare its support and agreed to sponsor the project. Upon the sponsorship agreement we are going to undersign here, the GAP Administration and the Pepsi will jointly finance and support Youth and Culture Houses. Before your presence, I want to express my sincere gratitude to the representatives of the Pepsi who acted in the spirit of social responsibility to support the young people of the region. This valuable support will both ensure the sustainability of centres and further strengthen and scale up our activities in the field of youth".

Jim Zaza, the head of Pepsi Bottling Group in Turkey said it is their aim to cooperate with the GAP Administration to contribute to the development of the region and support efforts for the social and cultural development of youth. Mr. Zaza said: "Young people make up the most dynamic component of our society and also our link to the future. As a company, we want to fulfil our social responsibility to this population group that bears particular importance for us. We are heading towards the GAP region where young people in the age group 15-24 constitute 23 % of total population. The rate of unemployment in the region is 13 %. The rate of unemployment among youth is even higher than this average: 17.1 %. We are determined to wage efforts to impart new skills in young people through social and cultural programmes, to provide wider and better education and training opportunities, and to offer various channels for wise utilisation of leisure time. Our efforts will include those targeting the inclusion of young people in regional development process and building solidarity among young people living in different parts of the country. With our Project, we will demonstrate the value we attach them".

In his speech, Mr. Zaza also touched upon the rapid growth that the Pepsi Bottling Group is now enjoying in Turkey: "Turkey ranks 12th in the list of important countries for the Pepsi and the group in Turkey ranks 5th in the list in terms of rate of growth. The Pepsi attaches specific importance to Turkey and sees her as a 'diamond in dust.' This importance derives from the dynamism of young people in the country. We will together take that diamond out of dust by supporting young people".

Pepsi support to 50,000 young people

Under the project the Pepsi will contribute financially to Youth and Culture Houses in the region for a period of 5 years and manage activities carried out by these centres. The Company will launch a new centre in Gaziantep, making the total number of centres in the region 9. At present Youth and Culture Houses reach about 50,000 young people in the age group 15-25. These Houses function as centres that organize various social, cultural and educative activities, develop projects in the social field and create synergy by involving young people in their activities. The year 2006 activities under the "social responsibility" project include the launching of a periodic for youth and organization of a youth festival as well as youth camps.

The Pepsi Bottling Group maintained its growth in 2005 in the Turkish market having a potential of 1.5 billion litres. The Pepsi enjoyed a growth rate of 12 % in the cola beverage market in Turkey which, as a whole, grew by 12 % in 2004 and 10 % in 2005.