SERBIA
Japan Tobacco International’s (JTI) Serbian arm has opened a €3 million new production line at its factory in Senta.
JTI’s executive vice president Mutsuo Iwai said the factory in Senta, in northern Serbia, is one of the best-performing units of JTI on a global scale and the opening of the new production line represents another step forward in the company’s business in the country.
“JTI’s exports in the period from 2006 to the present day have supported Serbia’s trade and reached almost US$250 million,” said Iwai. “In addition, JTI is now one of the five largest taxpayers in Serbia with a total contribution of more than US$2 billion since 2006.”
According to Iwai, JTI is the only foreign cigarette manufacturer in Serbia that purchases tobacco from local producers and provides about 1,000 jobs to own employees, tobacco growers, and seasonal workers.
JTI has invested US$180 million since acquiring the factory in Senta in 2006 and exports the cigarettes produced there to Montenegro, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Croatia, and Albania.