NEW YORK: The US-India Business Council (USIBC) has appointed Indra K. Nooyi, chairman and chief executive officer of PepsiCo, to its Board of Directors.The USIBC is the premier business advocacy organization representing 250 of the largest US companies investing in India and two dozen of India's largest global companies.

USIBC's mandate is to strengthen US-India commercial ties, and its Board of Directors represents a spectrum of companies and industries.PepsiCo, the world's second largest food and beverage company, is a Chairman's Circle member of USIBC, the highest level of membership. The company is a longtime supporter of expanding business ties between the US and India and works actively to strengthen the two countries' commercial relations.

PepsiCo's involvement with USIBC goes back to the late 1980s, when PepsiCo co-founder and former Chairman and CEO Don Kendall chaired the Council and worked to promote economic liberalization of India.

"Ms. Nooyi is a distinguished business leader who will be a wonderful addition to our Board of Directors," said Council Chairman Charles Kaye. "As the chief executive of a corporation spanning nearly 200 countries, she brings a unique and highly-valuable perspective to the U.S.-India Business Council." PepsiCo has been doing business in India since 1989 and today offers Indian consumers a broad range of beverages and foods.

The company and its partners have invested more than $700 million in India to build businesses that provide direct or indirect employment for more than 60,000 people. PepsiCo also has been an active supporter of Indian agriculture, working in partnership with thousands of farmers in Punjab and other states to refine their farming techniques and significantly improve their yields.

The company also supports a range of social and environmental programs in Indian communities.PepsiCo's commitment to sustainable growth, defined as Performance with Purpose, is focused on generating healthy financial returns while giving back to communities the company serves.

This includes meeting consumer needs for a spectrum of convenient foods and beverages, reducing the company's impact on the environment through water, energy and packaging initiatives, and supporting its employees through a diverse and inclusive culture that recruits and retains world-class talent. PepsiCo is listed on the Dow Jones North America Sustainability Index and Dow Jones World Sustainability Index.