Tobacco Authority to produce Chinese cigarettes

BANGKOK, June 6 (TNA) -- The Tobacco Authority of Thailand on Wednesday signed an agreement to produce cigarettes for China's Shaanxi Jinye Science Education Group (Jinye) and Yunnan Reascend Tobacco Technology (Reascend) targeting Chinese tourists. Daonoi Sutthinipapan, governor of the state enterprise, said the movement resulted from the new Tobacco Authority of Thailand Act which took effect on May 14 and provided the state enterprise with flexibility and ability to expand its business. The cooperation with the Chinese companies was a good start to promote Thai tobacco products internationally, she said. The memorandum of understanding that the three organisations signed was intended to introduce cigarette products targeting the large and growing number of Chinese visitors to Thailand. Jinye and Reascend were knowledgeable on the demand of Chinese consumers and the Tobacco Authority of Thailand planned to introduce a new product within Oct 1 which was the National Day of China, Ms Daonoi said. The collaboration should benefit the income of Thai tobacco farmers and enable her organisation to reach overseas markets, especially those in Southeast Asia in the future, she said. (TNA)