ZIMBABWE: Chinese company takes a Zimbabwean partner

HARARE—The Chinese tobacco company China Tobacco Shaanxi Industrial Corporation (CTSIC) has partnered with the Zimbabwean manufacturer Pacific Cigarette Company (PCC), formerly Savana Tobacco. CTSIC is a regional subsidiary of the Xi’an-based Chinese National Tobacco Company, and the deal represents the first and only cooperation agreement ever signed by a state-owned Chinese tobacco company and an African manufacturer.

The first order of business for the partnership is to gear up production of a new line of cigarettes called Acacia Series. A blend of Zimbabwean tobacco and Chinese flavors, it will be targeted to the large Chinese community in Zimbabwe. If all goes well, it will eventually be marketed to a million or more Chinese nationals living in Africa. Acacia Fantasy, the first variant to be released, will be in the market soon and was launched in a ceremony at the PCC factory in Savanna on December 7.

In welcoming remarks at the event, PCC Chairman Adam Molai said in a statement that the agreement had been 10 years in the making, and was a testament to the shared vision and entrepreneurial culture shared by the two companies. He also spoke of the opportunities in Zimbabwe and Africa that the Chinese had recognized and exhorted the guests to adopt a perspective of seeking oppor- tunities to solve problems in the pursuit of economic and national development.

CTSIC executive Bai Gang said in The Standard newspaper of Harare that the introduction of the Acacia line of cigarettes is an attempt to widen their base and reach the consumers of their highly ranked products. Acting Chinese Ambassador to Zimbabwe Zhao Baogang said that local production of cigarettes would help the Zimbabwean Chinese community, which has been spending millions to import tobacco products.

“Now we can get a finished product, and that means more value addition that will create jobs for Zimbabwe’s people,” said Baogang.

This year Zimbabwe country produced in excess of 200 kgs of tobacco, most of which was exported to China.

Molai founded Savanna Tobacco Company in 2002, and the company re-branded as Pacific Cigarette Co. in 2017. It is the manufacturer of the Pacific brand of cigarettes, which includes Pacific Storm, one of the country’s and region’s leading cigarette brands.