Tehran, Iran, Nov. 30
By Mehdi Sepahvand - Trend:
The Iranian Islamic Republic's Center for Planning and Control on Tobacco is in talks with Belarusian companies to have them produce cigarettes in the country.
During a meeting with Belarusian commercial attaché to Tehran Dmitri Kalchov, director of Iran Center for Planning and Control on Tobacco Ali Asghar Ramzi invited Belarusian tobacco companies to use the existing capacities in Iran and try joint production, Iran's industry, mines and trade ministry's official SHATA news website reported November 30.
By the end of the current Iranian year (March 21), Iran plans to produce about 10 billion cigarettes with their original brands instead of importing them, Ramzi said.
During the meeting, Ramzi briefed the Belarusian official about the positive points of investment in Iran's tobacco industry and turning Iran into a regional hub for export.
Kalchov, in turn, said he had plans to hold talks with companies and related organizations, and then to pursue legal authorizations for Belarusian companies to work in Iran.
Some 28.7 billion cigarettes were produced domestically and 13.6 billion were legally imported to Iran last Iranian fiscal year (ended March 21).
Out of 55 to 65 billion cigarettes used in Iran last year, about 18 billion were smuggled cigarettes.