Japan Tobacco International launches construction of its operational base in Tetouan
- JTI renews its conviction and faith in Morocco's potential and strategic advantages
- JTI consolidates its presence and sustainable investment in Africa through the Kingdom of Morocco
Japan Tobacco International celebrated, on Friday 19 July, the launch of the construction of the new factory in the Tetouan Park industrial zone in order to consolidate its presence on the African continent.
After creating a regional cluster for North and West Africa, based in Casablanca, which includes the company's activities in 13 African countries, the Japanese multinational in the tobacco sector (JTI) renewed its confidence in Morocco's potential by launching the construction works of a manufacturing unit in Tetouan.
With these strategic steps, Japan Tobacco International seeks to develop a more important part of its activities in Africa; given the facilities, infrastructure and human resources offered by the continent as well as the demand.
JTI renews its conviction and faith in Morocco's potential and strategic advantages
The director of the Regional Investment Centre of the Tanger Tetouan Al Hoceima region, Jalal Benhayoun, stressed ‘the importance of the establishment of the company in the northern region in creating jobs as one of the largest employers in the country’.
‘With a total investment of 931 million dirhams, the Japanese company will contribute efficiently to the productive dynamism of the TTA region, which has become an attractive industrial pole both nationally and internationally,’ added Benhayoun, clarifying that “carrying out this project in Tetouan reflects the confidence of the multinational in the modern and optimal infrastructure of the region”.
The CRITTA director said that ‘JTI Tetouan is one of the first projects to benefit from the advantages of the New Investment Charter launched by Morocco’; praising the efforts made by the regional authorities and the contribution of Tangier Med to the launch of the construction of this production unit in the northern area.
For his part, the vice-president and general manager of JTI North and West Africa, José Luis Amador, expressed his satisfaction with the conditions of reception of the company in Morocco, especially the facilities offered by the authorities to make the project a reality in the city of Tetouan.
Amador praised the Kingdom's economic policy that seeks to attract and promote foreign investments in the different territories of the country; encouraging multinational companies to settle and launch their activities in the national industrial zones’.
Loubna Saber, the director of Public Affairs at the company, highlighted that ‘JTI is a company that is committed from Morocco not only to production but also to sustainability, women's empowerment and environmental protection; through the gender approach and the integration of women in the labour market and the implementation of the company's green commitment’.
‘In its commitment to women and youth, JTI Tetouan will generate 170 direct jobs and 50 indirect jobs with a wage bill of 30% for women,’ explained Loubna Saber.
‘The empowerment and accompaniment of women in order to achieve income-generating activities on the one hand and the improvement of employability of young people in the area with 10% of inexperienced employees on the other hand is one of the social missions undertaken by the Japanese multinational company in Morocco,’ concluded the JTI representative.
JTI consolidates its presence and sustainable investment in Africa through the Kingdom of Morocco
Present in Morocco since 2011, where it established its headquarters for all its activities in North and West Africa, JTI is consolidating its presence on the African continent through its activity in the North African country through NATC (North Africa Tobacco Company).
Japan Tobacco International (JTI) is an international tobacco company that markets its brands in more than 130 countries around the world, with a wide range of traditional and low-risk products.
Globally, the company owns both Winston, the second cigarette brand, Camel and other international brands such as MEVIUS, LD and Logic, its e-cigarette brand, Monte Carlo, Glamour and Nakhla brand products.
JTI is present in 13 countries in West North Africa: Morocco, Algeria, Libya, Tunisia, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Gambia, Guinea Bissau, Equatorial Guinea, Liberia and Mauritania.