Article

“European Tobacco Inc.”, which has invested $58 million in the modernization of the Baku Tobacco Factory, intends not only to utilize local raw materials, but also to bring it into conformity with international standards.

In 8 months of the factory’s work, the company has spent $12 million to purchase tobacco abroad, but was partially using local resources. With the factory’s financial assistance, high-quality tobacco is grown on the area of 800 hectares in Gabala, Gakh, Zagatala, Balakan, etc. and processed at the Gabala and Gakh fermentation factories. The company is going to sell Azeri tobacco to “European Tobacco Inc.” factories worldwide and then to market internationally. According to preliminary estimates, implementation of the project envisions employment of 200,000 people.

According to “European Tobacco Inc.”, several million dollars will be invested in Azerbaijan’s tobacco industry in 2001.*