Pepsico yesterday signed on as the eighth sponsor to contribute US$5 million to the United States Pavilion for Shanghai World Expo.

The signing brought the US budget for its Expo showcase up to US$61 million. The contract provides that PepsiCo will be "the exclusive non-alcoholic beverage and snack provider" for the pavilion.

Indra Nooyi, chairman and CEO of PepsiCo, yesterday signed the contract with Ellen Eliasoph, co-chairman of the pavilion. PepsiCo's business philosophy was "in sync" with the theme of the US Pavilion that is "Sustainability and Health," said Eliasoph.

With about 11 months to go before the start of the Expo, less than US$35 million of the budget for the project has been collected or pledged for the US Pavilion.

No deadlines will be set for countries and organizations to sign up to Expo nor to begin their pavilion constructions, Zhou Jun, director of the International Participants Department of the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination, said last week.

The participants could sign up for Expo "even a week ahead of the event," which had been common in previous Expos, said Zhou.

However, the organizer suggested participants should begin their pavilion constructions as early as possible.

World Expo is expected to draw up to 70 million visitors. Confirmed participants so far take in 191 countries and 48 international organizations.

(Shanghai Daily July 2, 2009)