In a millionaire investment which demonstrates the confidence of Japan To-
bacco International (JTI) in the Brazilian market, in 2017 the company announced
the construction of a cigarette factory in Santa Cruz do Sul: the first of the compa-
ny in the Country. The construction of the plant represents an investment of R$ 80
million, and its inauguration has been scheduled for 2018, generating upwards of
80 either direct or indirect jobs. Currently, the company operates a tobacco pro-
cessing plant in Santa Cruz do Sul and other plants spread across Brazil.
JTI also runs operations in the states of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, San-
ta Catarina, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco and Bahia, with a team of more than 940
direct collaborators, besides one thousand seasonal workers. Once the new fac-
tory has been inaugurated, the company will have all the stages of its production
chain in the Country.
Now, the operations involve the segment of Leaf Tobacco, initiated in 2009 and
responsible for such processes as production, procurement, research, processing
and exports. Another section consists of the CigaretteMarket, which comprises the
sale anddistribution of the cigarette brandportfolio inBrazil. Since 2014, the prod-
ucts are distributed in 12 states and the Federal District. The most recent invest-
ments by JTI in Brazilian soil had been the National Distribution Center, inaugu-
rated in 2016, and the injection of R$ 90 million in the improvement of the Leaf
Tobacco operations in Santa Cruz do Sul and Canoinhas (SC).
ThedirectorofCorporateAffairsandCommunicationatJTI,FlávioGoulart,main-
tains that the project of the new factory is very interesting for the municipal and re-
Brazilian
now
JapanTobacco International (JTI) has
announced the constructionof its first cigarette
factory inBrazil, an investment of R$ 80million
JTI ismore
gional economy, once it means growth and in-
vestment in a scenario that was on the decline.
The official has it that the expansion also indi-
catesmore jobs. “Our initial expectations arenow
being revised and there is a chance for us to hire
morepeoplethaninitiallyestimated.Ourbidcon-
sists in continuing contributing towards the de-
velopment of the region”, he reaffirms.
The chance for having all the productive stages
inBrazilisalsocelebratedbyJTI,especiallybecause
the brand will become more flexible and in bet-
ter condition to supply amarket that is nowon the
rise. The inauguration of the new plant takes place
on the very day the centenary of the Integrated To-
bacco Production System in Brazil is celebrated. “It
is a happy coincidence and an important conquest
of the sector, thus ratifying the sustainability status
ofthesupplychain,furtherjustifyingtheinvestment
ofthecompanyintheCountry”,saysGoulart.
JTI cigarette factory
will be inaugurated
in Santa Cruz do Sul
in 2018
Bruno Pedry
46
