DL E&C

British American Tobacco (BAT) Korea, the maker of Dunhill cigarettes, on Saturday held an opening ceremony for its local manufacturing facility at Jinsa Industrial Complex located in Sacheon, South Gyeongsang Province. Among VIP guests on hand were local and foreign dignitaries, including Sacheon City Mayor Kim Soo-young and Vice Governor of South Gyeongsang Province Lee Duk-young. Constructed by Daelim Industrial Co., the factory boasts series of top-class cigarette manufacturing facilities such as packaging, quality control laboratory and storage. John Taylor, President of BAT Korea, said, "BAT is very pleased to announce the opening of our local manufacturing facility in Korea. With this facility, we shall be ready to supply Koreans with made-in-Korea Dunhill Lights." The made-in-Korea Dunhill cigarettes will hit the counters after completing a series of product tests complying with BAT's world-class cigarette manufacturing standards. The new factory in Sacheon, the newest and one of BAT's best manufacturing facilities in the world, is equipped with leading-edge machines that require highly trained machine operators. For this reason, BAT Korea has sent Korean employees to overseas to complete training courses. Mayor Kim said, "The opening of the manufacturing center is very good news for everyone in our city and the province. The factory will have far-reaching effects on the local economy and community development." BAT Korea expects to begin production in the first half of 2003 with initial production capacity of 400 million packs of cigarettes per year. BAT Korea was granted full manufacturing license by the Ministry of Finance & Economy on Aug. 29. So far, BAT Korea factory has hired 248 new employees for its operation and plans to increase the number to 290 by the end of this year. "This means that total BAT Korea employment has remarkably increased to near 1,000 people mainly due to factory operation and expansion of distribution network across the nation. This is a good example of BAT Korea's contribution to Korean economy," the company said. British American Tobacco is the world's most international tobacco group, operating in some 180 countries. The company has a global market share of over 15 percent, selling a wide range of international brand names including Dunhill, Lucky Strike, Benson & Hedges, Kent, Rothmans and Pall Mall. (mihui@koreaherald.co.kr) 2002.11.12 <The Korea Herald>