The Regie signed today at its Hadath Headquarter a partnership agreement with Imperial Tobacco. Under the said agreement, Imperial Tobacco will be manufacturing its International Brands: Gitanes, Gauloises, and West at the Regie’s facilities under the supervision of international experts.
Mr. Seklaoui signed on behalf of the Regie while on behalf of Imperial Tobacco signed MENA region General Manager, Mr. Karim Demetri, in the presence of Mrs. Amandine Pellegrin, Imperial Tobacco’s Lebanon and Jordan Manager, and the Manager of Legal and Institutional Affairs Mr. Nasser Bakkar.
According to Seklaoui, the event is considered “an unprecedented achievement in the Regie’s history, considering that Imperial Tobacco is among the four biggest international companies in this field, having pioneer products in the market”. He stressed that this project greatly participates on the economic level through “its contribution to lowering the deficient of the foreign balance of payment, creating a trade cycle through operating complementary industries, not to mention providing huge revenues to the Lebanese Treasury”. However, Seklaoui underlined that “more importantly, this contract shows a great trust in the Regie, especially after it was rewarded the ISO certification 2015-9001.” He added: “after we obtained the certification, we were able to enhance the trust of different plants were affected by a number of diseases and vowed to stand by the side of El-Qalaa Municipal Union to resolve the environmental issues.
He also praised the role of House Speaker Nabih Berri in supporting farmers and caring for the environment and also shed light on the last initiative made by the Chief of the Municipal Union in cooperation with JTI to provide trucks for the collection of garbage.
Sleiman
Hady Sleiman delivered a speech on behalf of JTI in which he considered that contributing to this project is a responsibility that falls on the shoulders of the company and a duty toward the communities.
“We always choose long-term projects with continuity to reflect positively on the lives of the people, on the villages of El-Qalaa, the environment and the life of all citizens generally.”
Fawaz
For his part, Fawaz thanked those who cooperated with the Municipal Union of El-Qalaa and the Heads of Municipalities and expressed his gratitude to House Speaker Berri for his continuous support in various developmental fields as well as Eng. Seklaoui for exerting efforts to develop the agricultural sector. He also thanked JTI for cooperating and assisting the General Labor Union and the chief of this union for making a success out of this project.
He also praised all employees and tobacco farmers, adding that providing these trucks will save an enormous amount of money that they used to previously pay.
The ceremony was ended by presenting appreciation shields and the trucks.
It is worth noting that a number of banners were lifted in the region to welcome Eng. Seklaoui and to express gratitude for the developmental projects provided by Regie. Among the banners was one thanking Eng. Seklaoui for funding the construction of a hall for the town’s church.