Ardagh to Open Center of Excellence in Africa

Ardagh to Open Centre of Excellence in Africa Ardagh Group, a global supplier of sustainable packaging solutions, has announced the first steps toward establishing a global Centre of Excellence (CoE) to be built in Cape Town, South Africa. The new centre will provide certain IT services to Ardagh's operations in Europe, the Americas and Africa. Paul Coulson, Chairman of Ardagh Group, said: "With world-class technology skills and established infrastructure, Cape Town provides the perfect home for Ardagh's new Centre of Excellence. We look forward to expanding our presence to support our global business objectives." Ardagh views this as a pioneering opportunity to make a positive difference by developing the skills of young South Africans in the increasingly important technology sector and growing the business. Coulson stated: "Our Centre of Excellence in Africa, with social development at the heart of our sustainability strategy, will help support the empowerment of local youth as well as support Ardagh's future and commitment in the region. We recognise the critical role that education and access to education play in ensuring equal opportunity and building successful communities. This initiative aligns closely with Ardagh's programme to promote STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) education across our communities. We currently reach over 400 schools in Europe and the Americas and plan to expand to Brazil and Africa next year. We take pride in employing over 21,000 qualified people across our global network and look forward to bringing new members to our growing team here in Africa." Following Ardagh's acquisition of Consol Glass, now known as Ardagh Glass Packaging - Africa, in 2022, the company has made further investments to meet growing demand for sustainable glass packaging in South Africa. As part of this, the Centre of Excellence is expected to be an integral part of a series of positive social impact investments in South Africa, particularly in Cape Town. Ardagh Glass Packaging – Africa operates seven production facilities producing a range of glass packaging for the food, beverage and pharmaceutical industries in South Africa, Nigeria, Kenya and Ethiopia. Ardagh is pleased to work with the City of Cape Town, which provides support through education financing. Ardagh will also work with EXL, a leading data analytics and digital operations company, and CapaCiti as project implementation partner. Alderman Vos, Member of the Economic Growth Committee at the City of Cape Town, stated: "Ardagh Group's investment in and commitment to Africa is remarkable and inspiring. The City of Cape Town is excited to offer Capetonians transformative, real-world education and learning experiences. Investments such as this solidify Cape Town as a preferred investment destination on the African continent. The city aims to make it easy for businesses to establish, invest and grow in Cape Town. The plan is to be the easiest place to do business not only in South Africa but in Africa generally. This will positively impact by equipping our youth with foundational education, training and portable skills that will enable them to succeed in their future careers." In addition to the Centre of Excellence, Ardagh will also work with several local charities as a way of supporting local communities around Cape Town and underscoring Ardagh's commitment to the region. For more information about Ardagh's other sustainability initiatives and to access the latest sustainability reports, visit the company's website. Source