Eastern Tobacco Company: we provide the second largest income following Seuz Canal and we manufacture 80 billion cigarettes

 

The head of the Eastern Tobacco Company, Mohamed Othman Haroun, said that his company is one of the pillars of national economy, providing 43 billion Egyptian pounds last year, the second income after the Suez Canal.

He added, during the Third Arab Tobacco Conference, today that the industry is subject to a fierce discouraging attack. He pointed that smuggling and counterfeit cost Egypt 2 to 5 billion pounds in loss annually. Thus there must be an Arab consensus to eliminate illicit tobacco trade and negative phenomena.

He stressed the importance of protecting the industry from the challenges it faces, and taking into account the role of companies in supporting the national economy of each country. As well, he underlined the importance of supporting companies and protecting them from illegal actions, activating the legislative, supervisory and security role in each country, and increase punishment of smugglers.

 

In turn, Nassif Seklaoui, representative of Lebanon, said that the sector plays an important role in Lebanon, providing the fifth income with annual revenues of $ 450 million dollars, about 10% of the national income.

He pointed that farmers are a great support to the government. As well raw materials are imported to respond to the needs of some 70 tobacco companies in Lebanon, spread over 170 regions. He stressed the importance of protecting the industry through concerted efforts.

 

Later, a documentary was projected about the history of the Eastern Tobacco, which includes 14 factories employing 14 thousand Egyptian workers spread over many factories. The film addressed the company’s industrial complex in 6th of October, where 5.5 billion pounds are invested, and more than 80 billion cigarettes are produced annually, other than moassal and cigars.