• PepsiCo joins forces with Emirates Foundation in support of Emirati youth empowerment programs
  • Emirati youth to be offered opportunities in PepsiCo, from internships to mentoring and job shadowing
  • PepsiCo and Emirates Foundation launch Art of Zayed competition to mark 100th birthday of the Founder of the UAE 

Abu Dhabi, UAE - epsiCo, the global food and beverage company, has announced a new partnership with Emirates Foundation, a national organization set up by the Abu Dhabi Government to facilitate public-private funded initiatives for the empowerment of youth across the UAE.

As a part of the agreement, PepsiCo will offer young and talented Emiratis the opportunity to take up internships at the company as well as provide mentorships and job shadowing opportunities at different departments within the organization. PepsiCo will be actively involved in Emirates Foundation’s three signature projects: Kafa’at, Think Science, and Volunteer.ae.

To mark the 100th birthday of the late Sheikh Zayed, Founder of the UAE, the two entities have launched the Art of Zayed competition to encourage talented UAE residents to commemorate the Year of Zayed through music, poetry, and artwork.

Open to both Emiratis and residents of all nationalities in the UAE, the competition will run from May 6th until August 15th, after which the 10 best submissions will be shortlisted for the final round. The finalists will showcase their work at the Art of Zayed awards ceremony in October 2018. The selected three winners will win cash prizes and receive exposure for their work. To register for the competition and to learn more about it, please visit www.artofzayed.com.

Speaking about PepsiCo’s commitment, Omar Farid, President, Middle East and North Africa, PepsiCo, said: “Today is an auspicious day in the history of the UAE, where we mark the hundredth birthday of the late Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan, Founder of the UAE. At PepsiCo, we are proud to partner with Emirates Foundation to honor this day and reinforce our commitment to the nation. We are proud to support and nurture Emirati youth through several of the Foundation’s key initiatives. The Art of Zayed competition provides another opportunity to develop talented UAE residents, using their creative capabilities to honor the values and achievements of the late Sheikh Zayed through artwork, music, and poetry.”

Maytha Al Habsi, CEO of Emirates Foundation, said: “The support of the private sector is essential to empower Emiratis to become the driving force of the UAE’s knowledge economy. On behalf of Emirates Foundation, I am proud to welcome PepsiCo as our newest partner, and look forward to their ongoing contribution to the creation of opportunities and imparting of knowledge that will provide talented Emiratis with strong prospects for their future careers.”

As part of its Performance with Purpose (PwP) 2025 Sustainability Agenda, PepsiCo is working to create a healthier future for people and the planet. The company’s PwP 2025 agenda is designed to deliver needed change across the company, value chain, industry and the communities it operates in. PepsiCo’s engagement with youth is informed by the UN Sustainable Development Goals, which include a commitment to decent work and economic growth (Goal 8). Recognizing that high unemployment rates, especially among young people, along with skills gaps related to technology, are key challenges facing communities in the Middle East, PepsiCo’s support for the Emirates Foundation will contribute toward inspiring, empowering, and developing leaders with the technological and managerial skills to accelerate the UAE’s continued economic growth.

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About PepsiCo 
PepsiCo products are enjoyed by consumers more than one billion times a day in more than 200 countries and territories around the world. PepsiCo generated more than $63 billion in net revenue in 2017, driven by a complementary food and beverage portfolio that includes Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Pepsi-Cola, Quaker and Tropicana. PepsiCo's product portfolio includes a wide range of enjoyable foods and beverages, including 22 brands that generate more than $1 billion each in estimated annual retail sales.

At the heart of PepsiCo is Performance with Purpose – our fundamental belief that the success of our company is inextricably linked to the sustainability of the world around us. We believe that continuously improving the products we sell, operating responsibly to protect our planet and empowering people around the world enable PepsiCo to run a successful global company that creates long-term value for society and our shareholders. For more information, visit www.pepsico.com

About Emirates Foundation

Emirates Foundation was launched in April 2005 as an initiative of His Highness General Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi and Deputy Supreme Commander of the UAE Armed Forces. It is chaired by His Highness Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation.

Emirates Foundation is a national organization set up by the Abu Dhabi Government to facilitate public-private funded initiatives for the empowerment of youth across the UAE, putting them at the forefront of economic, social and human capital development.

The Foundation works with public and private sector partners to meet national goals and respond to society’s most pressing challenges in the areas of youth empowerment & engagement, volunteering and entrepreneurship powered by digital smart platforms and defined through data-driven market needs.

For more information on Emirates Foundation, please contact:

Samar Abdulhadi – samar@inspirat.us +971504546313

Media Contacts

For further information on PepsiCo, please contact:

Email: pepsicome@bm.com

Tel: +971 4 450 7600

© Press Release 2018