British American Tobacco (BAT), the biggest cigarette manufacturer in Romania, announces the tripling of investments in the Ploiesti plant in 2017 compared to the estimates announced last year. Thus, according to a press release, the company will invest around EUR 60 million in the construction of a new production hall, as well as plant’s upgrading.
In November 2016, the BAT management announced investments of almost EUR 21 million annually in the development of the Ploiesti plant for 5 years.
Investment growth comes following the expansion of production capacity due to three important factors: the gradual closure of the factory in Germany, Bulgaria’s Bulgartabac takeover (part of the volumes to be moved to Ploiesti), and optimizing volumes of the of the BAT factories in Western Europe, a region of which the Romanian unit is also part of.
As a result of the development of the Ploiesti production unit, 120 new jobs will be created by the end of the year, of which 90 have already been filled.
The new positions cover all areas of competence and, in particular, technical profiles – operators, technicians, electricians – and logistics. Currently, about 700 employees and 150 contractors are working in Ploiesti plant.
According to Gemma Webb, CEO BAT Romania, the investments will also be reflected in the produced quantities, which will increase by almost 30 percent. At the same time, BAT products manufactured in Ploiesti will reach 40 countries from 35.
“We want to continue investing in Romania and we hope that the Romanian Gov’t will ensure the necessary legislative and fiscal predictability, as well as political stability,” Webb pointed out.