The head of the Gaza Strip's first Coca-Cola plant said Thursday he hoped the venture would send a "message to investors" that the beleaguered Palestinian enclave was open for business. "It's a message to a lot of investors and global companies that investments in Gaza can succeed," said Yasser Arafat, Gaza manager of Palestinian Coke franchisee National Beverage Company (NBC). It will provide around 120 jobs immediately, Coca-Cola said, with an eventual expansion to 270.
