Khalil: within few days a new government will accelerate economic and financial situation
The MoF Presides over the meeting of contract signing between the Regie and Imperial Tobacco willing to manufacture its Products locally
On Monday, the Mof received in his office the Regie’s President and General Manager Mr. Nassif Seklaoui in addition to a delegation of Imperial Tobacco. During the meeting it was agreed to sign a partnership agreement, tomorrow on Tuesday, between the Regie and Imperial Tobacco at the Regie’s Hadath Headquarter. In accordance with the agreement, Imperial tobacco shall manufacture the products of its Trade Marks Gitanes, Gauloises, and West at the Regie’s facilities, under the supervision of international experts.
Mr. Seklaoui will be signing on behalf of the Regie while on behalf of Imperial Tobacco will be signing MENA region General Manager, Mr. Karim Demetri, in the presence of Mrs. Amandine Pellegrin, Imperial Tobacco’s Lebanon and Jordan Manager.
During the meeting Mr. Khalil took the speech:
“First of all, I would like to thank you for being here today.
I would like to express my gratitude once more for the success of one of our country’s most important establishments, the Regie, who’s proving day after day that whenever there is a will, our establisf Business Development Tibo Agitaz and Regional Director of Corporate Development Santiago Leiro.
Seklaoui
In his speech, Eng. Seklaoui stressed on the development made by Regie across all sectors, mainly the industrial sector and said: “by the end of 2018, 5 production lines will be added to the current lines to make them 10 production lines,” and described Lebanon as “the most important institution in the Middle East for tobacco production.”
Expressing pride in signing this agreement with JTI which is considered one of the most prominent international companies, Seklaoui pointed out that Regie will produce at the first stage JTI’s 100 mm and 83 mm Winchester and will then include other types such as Winston. “The initial manufacturing trials were conducted successfully,” Eng. Seklaoui said, adding that “the share of foreign cigarettes produced locally will increase up to 65 thousand boxes annually by the end of 2018 after JTI had become part of the local manufacturing map, and will increase up to 110 thousand boxes during 2019.”
Gibbons
For his part, Gibbons delivered a speech on behalf of JTI saying that signing this agreement allows the company to produce Winchester cigarettes locally in partnership with Regie.
“From now on, this product will be manufactured in Lebanon in the same quality using tobacco and products provided by JTI and under its supervision while using the latest manufacturing facilities available at Regie.”
He also added that “the Lebanese-made Winchester will be on the market soon and will be sold to consumers at a new price of LBP 1,250”.
Gibbons also noted that manufacturing Winchester in Lebanon is a first step as he is expecting the announcement of further initiatives for the local production of other JTI products in the near future.”
He also tackled the issue of illegal trade pointing out that it is a major challenge for tobacco production in Lebanon, emphasizing that 30% of tobacco products consumed in the Lebanese market today are smuggled.
“This has a negative impact on all tobacco-producing companies, on the revenues of the Lebanese state, on the possibility of creating job opportunities, and therefore this illegal trade must be stopped.”
In the same regard, he praised the conference organized by Regie on the issue of illegal trade, saying it showed Regie’s commitment to eliminate this trade, and voicing the company’s readiness to support the efforts of Regie and the Lebanese Customs and other law enforcement agencies to end this illegal trade.
Content of agreement
The agreement was signed by Engineer Hobeika from the Lebanese side and Gibbons from the company. It is expected that the monthly production of Winchester scale of 100 mm and 83 mm reaches about 5,500 boxes. The manufacturing team at Regie and the team from JTI will manufacture the first quantity estimated at 2,200 boxes over the weekend.
JTI is considered one of the most prominent international tobacco companies as it has 40 thousand employees from 100 nationalities and 400 offices, 5 research centers, 27 production factories, and 5 sorting factories. Its products are distributed in 130 countries and it imports tobacco from 36 countries. JTI owns internationally-known types such as Winston, Silk Cut, Glamour, and Camel. It also produces e-cigarettes Logic and Ploom which are based on heating the tobacco rather than burning it.