British American Tobacco’s Zambia Cigarette Manufacturing Plant has officially opened, reported lusakatimes.com.

The USD 25 million factory was opened by Zambia’s Finance Minister, Dr Bwalya Ng’andu, in the Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone (MFEZ), alongside a call for more investment into the countries manufacturing sector.
According to the report, Ng’andu said that the plant represents the kind of development the Zambian government is determined to achieve, as it enhances the inflow of Foreign Direct Investment. He also stated that the tobacco sector in Zambia is estimated to support the livelihoods of around 500,000 farmers. Ng’andu stressed the importance of engaging the domestic Agriculture sector, specifically focusing on the tobacco industry, with an aim to create linkages in order to cut down on the importation of tobacco.
The report also stated that BAT Zambia PLC General Manager, Kimesh Naidoo, pointed out the potential the Zambian market holds in creating more up- and downstream employment via the development of the tobacco industry.