British American Tobacco Opens New Cigarette Production Plant in Vranje

The new production plant of the biggest British investor in Serbia, the British American Tobacco (BAT), was ceremoniously opened today in Vranje by Prime Minister Aleksandar Vučić.

By opening the EUR 5 million production plant, the company BAT increased its capacities by 40% and became a CEFTA members countries’ production centre.

In addition to the Prime Minister the ceremonious event was also attended by senior company representatives, Regional Director for Western Europe Naresh Sethi, CEO of BAT Central Europe Richard Widmann, Regional Manager for Serbia and Montenegro Thanos Trimis, President of the Serbian Chamber of Commerce Marko Čadež, and many other Serbian businessmen and public figures.

Following the successful privatization of one of the most reputable local tobacco companies, British American Tobacco became one of the most important foreign investors in Serbia. Since the beginning of its operation on the local market the company paid over a billion euros into the budget of the Republic of Serbia while its direct investment amounted to over EUR 200 million of which EUR 120 million was invested in the acquisition and modernization of the factory in Vranje.

BAT was founded in 1902, it is the world’s leading multinational tobacco company with over 200 brands and it operates in practically all markets, employing over 58,000 people.

In 2015 BAT sold 663 billion cigarettes made in 44 factories in 41 countries. Last year it reported total revenue of GBP 41 billion of which almost GBP 30 billion has been invested in budgets of governments worldwide, while the company’s operating profit stands at GBP 4.5 billion.

British American Tobacco Vranje a.d. Vranje

Cefta Secretariat Brussels

Privredna komora Srbije

Ambasada Velike Britanije Beograd

British American Tobacco

BAT

Aleksandar Vučić

CEFTA agreement

Naresh Sethi

Richard Widmann

Thanos Trimis

Marko Čadež

PKS

Great Britain’s Ambassador to Serbia