DAR ES SALAAM, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian President John Magufuli on Thursday inaugurated a 30-million-U.S. dollar cigarette factory owned by Philip Morris Tanzania Limited, an affiliate of Philip Morris International, the world's leading tobacco company.
A statement by the Directorate of Presidential Communication at State House in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam said the new cigarette factory is located in Morogoro region in eastern Tanzania.
The statement said shortly after he had inaugurated the factory with a capacity to produce 400 million cigarettes a year, President Magufuli urged leaders in the country to protect and attract investors.
"I would like to assure investors that the government will protect them because their industries are providing ready market for farmers and they are also creating jobs," said Magufuli.
He appealed to the investors not to hesitate in investing in the east African nation.
Dagmara Piasecka, the spokesperson for Philip Morris Tanzania Limited, thanked President Magufuli for the assurance, adding that the prevailing peace in the country was making the investment atmosphere conducive.
In August last year, Philip Morris Tanzania Limited signed a manufacturing agreement with Mansoor Industries Limited of Tanzania for cigarette making to cater for local and international market.
Mansoor Shanif Hirani, CEO of Mansoor Industries Limited, said the new factory has employed 224 Tanzanians and will be paying annual government revenue to the tune of 5.5 million dollars.
Charles Mwijage, the Minister for Industry, Trade and Investments, said the construction of industries was ongoing throughout the country with the mission of making Tanzania an industrialized nation.
