BUSINESS PARTNER
BUSINESS
VICTOR VEKLITCH, VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL MANAGER AT JTI WESTERN BALKANS
Continuous Investments In A PEOPLE & BUSINESS JTI has invested more than $181 million in Serbia since 2006, modernising facilities, launching cigarette production, tripling its market share and establishing highscale exports to Montenegro, BosniaHerzegovina, North Macedonia and Albania, as well as the export of tobacco to the EU
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Last summer saw you commission a new cigarette-packing line worth three million dollars. Will you be adding new facilities and expanding capacities? - Development and upgrading business capacities remain an imperative for us. Our business strategy implies continuous investments in our operations in Serbia, and last year’s investment was significant not only from the aspect of upgrading and expanding production, but also resulted in us ensuring a reduction of imports and We recently marked an increase of exports to the countries 10 years without a work-related of the region.
t Japan Tobacco International (JTI) they are glad that their employee practises have been recognised and rewarded with the prestigious ‘Top Employer’ certificate. This recognition, and above all the great satisfaction of employees, are the main driving force for the company to continue operating in this way and to make things happen.
JTI is traversing the second decade of its operations in Serbia. What have proven to be the greatest benefits of the decision to invest in Serbia? injury in Senta factory - With the distance of this time, we can JTI is the only company to buy local tosafely say that entering the Serbian marbacco. How many people, including farmers and seasonal ket was a good decision. The value of exports since 2006 has workers, make a living thanks to your factory? reached nearly $250 million! We’ve also quadrupled the number - Yes, we are the only foreign company that grows and buys of employees and are now among the five biggest taxpayers local tobacco, and we are pleased to help Serbia’s agricultural in Serbia, with contributions exceeding $2.2 billion to this day. policy in this way. We indirectly employ more than 1,200 people, We are very proud of these results! 26
