As announced on 19 October, Leningrad’s regional government has approved CRES-Neva’s US$ 35 million investment plan for expansion of production by building up new lines for primary processing of tobacco leaf and DIET tobacco expansion.

The project is to be implemented during the years 2006 and 2007 and will bring the plant’s capacity to 32 million kilos, reports Regnum news agency. Today, CRES-Neva makes up to 19.5 million kilos of expanded tobacco stem yearly. Standard Commercial Tobacco (USA) initially invested US$ 19 million in the facility which was sold to JTI for US$ 14 million last June. CRES-Neva is the main supplier of cut, rolled and expanded tobacco stem to JTI’s cigarette making facilities in Russia and Ukraine, as well as to a number of other companies. (vt)