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PepsiCo India has announced plans to invest nearly $24 million (INR 186 crore) to expand its manufacturing facility in Kosi Kalan, Mathura. The facility currently produces PepsiCo's Lay's potato chip brand. The investment will increase capacity at the plant, by introducing a new manufacturing line to produce snacks under its Doritos brand. The plant expansion will create over 1,500 direct and indirect jobs and develop farming partnerships with over 5,000 local potato farmers in Uttar Pradesh. Ahmed ElSheikh, president of PepsiCo India, said, "The progressive ecosystem and industrial climate in Uttar Pradesh has yielded some fantastic opportunities for PepsiCo India. Thanks to the industry-friendly policies and ease of doing business in the state, we achieved a major milestone of setting up our greenfield foods plant in Kosi in less than two years." He continued: "The state-of-the-art facility is fuelling the economic ecosystem and creating job opportunities in Uttar Pradesh. Given the tremendous response, we are happy to further raise our investment by INR 186 crore in the state."