ASIAN tobacco giant China Tobacco Shaanxi Industrial Corporation (CTSIC) has partnered local manufacturer Pacific Cigarette Company (PCC) as the company seeks to make inroads into the African market.
Source: Chinese tobacco giant enters Zim market – The Standard December 9, 2018
Steve Zhao (left), Global CEO Yves Boulenge, acting Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang and Bai Gang follow the proceedings during the Acacia Series launch at the Savanna Tobacco factory on Friday.
With strict anti-tobacco regulation sweeping across Europe and the Americas, Africa remains the last frontier for global players in the industry seeking new markets.
CTSIC will be entering a Zimbabwean market already dominated by British American Tobacco (BAT).
The deal will see a new brand, Acacia Series cigarettes, being produced locally.
The new line of cigarettes is a blend of Zimbabwean tobacco and Chinese flavours targeting the large Chinese community resident in Zimbabwe, with plans to service over one million Chinese people all over Africa.
CTSIC executive Bai Gang said the introduction of the Acacia range of cigarettes was an attempt to widen their base and reach the consumers of their highly ranked products.
“We have taken an active response to the plan of China Tobacco going abroad and succeed in cooperation with overseas tobacco businesses, (and) in adherence to the idea of win-win cooperation and common development in African-Chinese cooperation, CTSIC gets ready to initiate a close relationship with Savanna Tobacco (PCC),” said Gang.
Acting Chinese ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang told journalists that local production of cigarettes would ease the burden on the Chinese community, which had been spending hundreds of millions to import tobacco products.
“In the past we have had raw materials, but imported tobacco every year worth more than $200 million, now we can get a finished product and that means more value addition that will create jobs for Zimbabwe’s people,” he said.
“This product will be produced in Zimbabwe, but we are targeting the Chinese consumers although it can also be sold to local people and neighbouring country markets.”
According to PCC Global CEO Yves le Boulenge, the deal, the first to be signed between an African cigarette manufacturer and a state-owned Chinese tobacco company, would have a positive ripple effect on local tobacco production.
“Many people know that there is tobacco produced in Zimbabwe, but not many know that it is actually the best in the world, so this partnership will also help in elevating the image because we will be exporting,” he said.
Zimbabwe is the largest grower of tobacco in Africa, and the sixth largest grower in the world with over half of it exported to China.
This year the country produced in excess of 200 kgs of the golden leaf, most of which was exported to China.
COMMENTS
What Zimbabweans should bear in mind is that growing tobacco is a curse, no wonder our economy is not taking off. Tobacco smoking is killing millions of people worldwide, and we are contributing to this evil. Why do the Chinese want to keep their noose around our necks. They have a bad habit of smoking and we should not assist them in their wish to destroy our country. Let us substitute tobacco growing with cash crops like soya beans and cotton. Please. The Almighty will have mercy on us, if we do what is right for Zimbabweans and not for the Chinese.
Zimbabwe should not fall into the trap of feeding the Chinese with whatever they can get out of us. Growing tobacco is a curse and it is no wonder we are in trouble with our economy. The Almighty cannot bless us when we grow tobacco which contributes to the death of millions worldwide. Most countries have stopped tobacco processing for the same reason and we must substitute tobacco growing with cash crops such as soya beans, cotton, sunflower, wheat etc. the list is long. Why continue to feed the Chinese with tobacco that costs our country dear? Let them grow it themselves. Please.
This is desperation by the government to creatw jobs and get revenue to develop rhe country.Why promote the manufacture and sale of a killer product?Tobacco is satan’s product and its use and cultivation should not be encouraged by the government.
Let us mix mbanje with these cigarettes and watch the jhing jhings go penga