State owned Regie Company in June will start operations at a plant in Hadath with a capacity to boost production from 12,000 boxes of cigarettes per month to 35,000, including leading international brands, according to the Al Bawaba website.

Finance Minister Ali Hasan Khalil inaugurated the USD 17 million (EUR 15.3 million) facility that has a potential to increase turnover by USD 40 million, Al Bawaba reported. International brands would be manufactured under license, the website said.