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Coca-Cola CEO Muhtar Kent on the company’s goal of becoming water-neutral by 2020 and the need for tax and fiscal reform in the U.S.
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Business survival think about it.
How many companies either failed -- didn't even get off the ground since the financial crisis began closed -- man is in Davos Switzerland with a man who runs a company that has held on and actually -- Since 1885.
Lady -- by next -- company FaceBook page has 57.
Million likes who do you think that it has -- -- Okay it's Coca-Cola and we are here with Coke's chairman president and CEO muhtar Kent do you FaceBook.
I don't but I'm really proud that we do have.
Now we've been gone past the -- -- seven million mark on FaceBook and I think this is so.
-- what's fascinating about the world today house so changing so fast in the way that.
-- -- no longer are you only going to be communicating to -- consumers consumers communicate with each other and talk about your -- And that is the key in in in how you.
Actually shape.
Motivation.
Of consumers and how you shaped -- your friend in a positive manner or or how you succeed in this world today.
If you've been coming since the eighties to Davos.
To the World Economic Forum but do you want something each year about Coca-Cola itself well -- learned a lot about the world and how the world is changing and how.
-- -- e-business cannot.
A loan.
Solve some of the peak challenges of the world -- governments can they're learning and civil society candidates that golden triangle that needs to be formed.
Closer.
More lasting collaboration.
Between.
Government civil society NGOs university's business.
To come together to solve some of the big societal problems whether it's unemployment or whether it's.
Active healthy lifestyles or whether it's health care.
Or whether it's so we create -- how do you solve our solving the algebra for growth from.
Or water.
-- you're partnering with Dean -- on this the sling shot water technology that turns.
Frankly filthy water into -- -- drinking water.
Why are you spending so much time and effort -- well that's only a small piece of what we're doing with water water -- is -- At at very.
Peak.
Issue in the world and will continue to become bigger.
Because.
-- nobody treats water -- dignity in the world.
Everybody thinks it's free it's available.
Agriculture as as a lot to improve in terms of practices.
-- and how they conserve water.
We all have to conserve water better -- treated with more dignity and therefore Coca-Cola.
Has been the first.
Business in a way that has declared.
A goal of water neutrality by 20/20 think of them on -- water the Coca-Cola uses and then we have said by 20/20.
We are going to global -- become water neutral that means give back to the world.
Every feature a water that we use that you -- Where a lot has changed since you and I spoke with the London Olympics we have a president who was reelected.
We've got all kinds of tax changes the payroll tax cut has been eliminated.
We got through one part of the fiscal cliff now we're looking at that the debt ceiling which of those -- you.
As a business leader matters the most affects business the most.
I think.
What matters the most is providing clarity from.
Clarity to business clarity to the country at large.
And that's what people want everytime there's a survey you see that they want clarity.
And that's why I think it is so important.
To have -- solutions.
-- that will now has no you have.
You have clarity on the on the fact that people have the payroll tax back into their short paychecks are you seeing any effect on that.
Where people have less money in the pockets of oil -- -- not -- Coca Cola's.
I think that.
Generally speaking we still see that great great opportunities in the United States for our business in the coming decade and and and continued on from there.
We haven't seen an impact get this maturity to tell but I would say this.
I would say if we can have a solution which I believe we will.
For the fit for fiscal reform.
If we can have a solution in the United States for tax reform to get -- 21 century tax policy in place that we can all be -- -- if we can get immigration reform in place and if we can.
Also.
Start having a solution for our infrastructure infrastructure reform.
I believe United States and the the the future's so bright for the United States to.
Do you feel that President Obama heading into the next four years has become more business friendly.
Neutral.
Plus I would say I have.
A great hopes that the next four years are going to be.
Better and good for years and -- There's been a decline in consumption of sugary sodas over the past decade at least in the United States and then you have.
Certain leaders and President Obama have talked about it a couple of years ago either institute -- the federal tax on sodas or you've got state governors who who might be thinking.
Let me -- -- easy money from that the beverage industry tree.
By instituting some type attacks what you say to what governor who's thinking about doing something like that.
-- -- say we cannot tax our way.
And and solve the -- any of these problems we can't.
Tax.
And provide solutions.
If it is never provide the solutions we can only grow our way out.
Of the current situation.
And growth means coming together.
As business as government.
To try and create the necessary platform.
So that business can continue to invest we are we have invested.
Ten billion dollars in the United States in the last three years we still see great opportunities in the United States.
Would new look at the top fifteen brands in the in the business of non.
I'll call it beverages in the United States has actually been growth.
In those top fifteen brands and analysis of brands of growing.
Maybe the industry.
Is not growing as a whole but that the brands key key successful brands are growing and by the way in dollar value the industries also grow 3%.
In the last three years.
Continually waving the Coca-Cola flag for the industry thank you very matches the -- can't as the chairman president and CEO of Coke.
The old slogan what I was there was have a Coke and a smile think we'll send it back to New York.
