The MoF Presides over the meeting of contract signing between the Regie and Imperial Tobacco willing to manufacture its Products locally

On Monday, the Mof received in his office the Regie’s President and General Manager Mr. Nassif Seklaoui in addition to a delegation of Imperial Tobacco. During the meeting it was agreed to sign a partnership agreement, tomorrow on Tuesday, between the Regie and Imperial Tobacco at the Regie’s Hadath Headquarter. In accordance with the agreement, Imperial tobacco shall manufacture the products of its Trade Marks Gitanes, Gauloises, and West at the Regie’s facilities, under the supervision of international experts.

Mr. Seklaoui will be signing on behalf of the Regie while on behalf of Imperial Tobacco will be signing MENA region General Manager, Mr. Karim Demetri, in the presence of Mrs. Amandine Pellegrin, Imperial Tobacco’s Lebanon and Jordan Manager.

During the meeting Mr. Khalil took the speech:

“First of all, I would like to thank you for being here today.

I would like to express my gratitude once more for the success of one of our country’s most important establishments, the Regie, who’s proving day after day that whenever there is a will, our establishments would succeed, under a loyal working group, and in the absence of any obstacles.”

He added: “this is not our first milestone; with Mr. Seklaoui and his team we accomplished many goals, making the Regie one of the most prominent nationwide.” Khalil stressed that “today we witness the first step of manufacturing brands of one of the biggest international companies, whose worldwide position is no secret. It was important to gain its trust, due to a long experience with the Lebanese Regie.”

He continued: “It is crucial for Lebanon to locally manufacture these four brands well known to Lebanese consumers, which emphasizes the step even more.”

“We are keen to great results thanks to the technical development that the Regie will be achieving next, especially in regard to providing additional production lines, within mid next year, as agreed. Thus we would manufacture additional brands to the benefit of Imperial Tobacco or even other companies.”

“Simultaneously we witness a new political phase following Presidential elections and Prime Minister nomination. If is God’s will, within few days a new government will accelerate economic and financial situation that requires much support in this historical moment. We should trust our economy. We are optimists about our nation’s future and the upcoming stage, as well as about correcting economic and social situation. Thus, each agent of the industrial sector shall benefit the growth that would hopingly be realized soon. I would like to underline once more the Regie’s position that sets great examples for other public facilities that shall follow its steps in order to achieve better results nationwide. Even though this trust was in relation to a specific detail but it reflects as well Lebanon’s position and importance regarding international companies.”

Khalil said: “in case we pay an exceptional effort in other sectors, no doubt that we would achieve the exact same enthusiasm toward Lebanon.

He concluded: “we are dealing with a sensitive industrial sector that monitors our trade balance. It is widely spread that industry is limited in Lebanon compared to imported products. Initiating local manufacturing, even partially, would accelerate the market and working forces in sectors related to these companies.”