Achievement Reflects Regie’s Advanced Technical Expertise, Expands Its Industrial Base, and Demonstrates the Confidence of Global Companies
Minister of Finance Yassine Jaber, who patronized on Tuesday the inauguration of a new production and packaging line for Philip Morris International (PMI) products at the Lebanese Regie for Tobacco and Tombacs’ (Regie) Hadath factory, described Regie as one of the most successful state-owned institutions, noting that its revenues make a significant contribution to supporting the Treasury.
Regie Chairman and General Manager Eng. Nassif Seklaoui, meanwhile, said that installing the line using Lebanese expertise was “a challenge under extraordinary circumstances,” as the work was carried out amid the Israeli attacks.
The ceremony was also attended by members of Regie’s Management Committee, Eng. Georges Hobeika, Dr. Issam Salman, Dr. Mazen Abboud, and Eng. Imad Bassat; representatives of the supervisory authority, Government Commissioner Mirna Baz and Financial Controller Carole Youssef; senior Regie officials and directors; and a number of Philip Morris International representatives.
Jaber
In his remarks during the ceremony, Jaber expressed pride in the progress achieved by Regie, describing it as “one of the most successful government institutions owned by the Lebanese State” and stressing that its revenues make a substantial and essential contribution to supporting the Treasury and the State budget.
Jaber said that Regie continues to develop its production despite the difficult circumstances Lebanon is facing, noting that the institution is “always ready to add new production lines,” as quality and success are among the defining characteristics of its work.
He emphasized Regie’s important economic and social role, pointing out that its contribution extends beyond generating revenues for the Treasury to supporting tobacco farmers, particularly during difficult circumstances, including those who were unable to cultivate their land.
He also highlighted the institution’s role in providing employment opportunities for hundreds of young men and women in the industrial and production sectors.
Minister Jaber stressed that supporting national industry should be among the priorities of the coming period, describing investment in human resources as “one of Lebanon’s most important messages.”
He said that government institutions should benefit from the capabilities of Lebanese talent, praising Lebanese professionals who have demonstrated their ability to manage and operate production projects with the highest levels of efficiency and professionalism.
Referring to the new production line, Jaber noted that the foreign partner company was unable to send its technical team to install the equipment because of the war.
As a result, Regie’s Lebanese employees undertook the assembly, installation, and operation of the line themselves with a high degree of efficiency and professionalism.
“We are proud of them, of Lebanese products, and of Lebanese workers,” he said.
Jaber also praised the partnership between Regie and Philip Morris, which has continued for nearly ten years, saying that its continuity within a framework of trust and stability reflects confidence in the institution’s capabilities and in Lebanese talent.
He thanked the partner company for its trust and cooperation.
He noted that the sector associated with Regie generates extensive employment opportunities in factories, printing facilities, and paper manufacturing plants, as well as in distribution, sales, and marketing. It also contributes to exporting Lebanese products abroad, where demand exists for these products, particularly in Syria and other markets.
Regarding the State budget, Jaber stressed that the Ministry of Finance “always seeks to submit it on time,” revealing that it would be referred to Parliament in early October, allowing it to be approved before the beginning of the fiscal year in accordance with the Constitution.
In this context, he also referred to the allocation of funds to the Public Corporation for Housing to provide subsidized housing loans, describing the measure as economically and socially significant.
Jaber concluded by emphasizing that major government institutions are key contributors to supporting the State budget and Treasury.
He reiterated his commitment to continuing support for farmers and national industry, stressing that stability and security are essential conditions for sustaining work and production.
He said Regie provides a clear example of how challenges can be overcome, even under the most difficult circumstances, when successful management, competent human resources, and productive partnerships are in place.
Seklaoui
Seklaoui said that inaugurating the new line “is a challenge in itself,” explaining that work continued amid the sound of bombardment and only meters away from Beirut’s southern suburbs, while buildings were shaking.
Despite these circumstances, work and training continued to install the production line without assistance from any foreign company.
“This was not merely a challenge under unusual circumstances, but under exceptional circumstances, and it reflects global companies’ confidence in Regie and their confidence in investing in Regie,” Seklaoui said.
He added: “This challenge has two dimensions: one relates to the determination of Regie’s management and its employees, while the other relates to the support represented by the Minister’s follow-up and his close attention to the key stages of implementation.
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Seklaoui continued: “In practice, this is a form of partnership.
Companies invest millions of dollars in installing production lines, while we employ Lebanese workers on this equipment to manufacture their products. It is essentially a commercial partnership.”
He explained that Regie generates revenues from every carton it produces and that, once sold, the products are subject to State duties, profit-related taxes, and value-added tax.
“This drives Regie toward a promising future,” he said.
Seklaoui also stressed that farmers displaced from their towns are a fundamental pillar of the agricultural sector and, consequently, a fundamental pillar of Regie.
“The situation cannot be considered sustainable if the rest of Regie’s departments are functioning normally while these farmers continue to face difficult circumstances,” he said.
He explained that farmers who were able to cultivate their crops in affected areas account for only around 20 to 25 percent of the total number of farmers.
Regie therefore decided to increase the purchase price paid to them, in addition to providing assistance for every kilogram produced as a reward for their resilience.
He cited several cases in southern Lebanon, including farmers in the villages of Briqaa, Deir Aames, Froun, and others.
“As for farmers who were unable to cultivate their land, each will receive an amount determined according to the size of their crops,” he added.
Seklaoui said: “We visited Speaker Nabih Berri, as the patron of this sector, to listen to his guidance, and he was encouraging and supportive.”
He also noted that 38 tobacco farmers were killed during this period.
Karaman
Philip Morris General Manager Ali Karaman said: “We are proud to celebrate a significant milestone in our partnership with the Lebanese Regie for Tobacco and Tombacs, reflecting the success of a long-standing relationship built on trust and excellence.”
He praised “the exceptional efforts made by the manufacturing team over the past years, particularly in installing and operating the new equipment with a high degree of efficiency despite the challenges.”
Karaman thanked Regie’s management and all members of the manufacturing team for their professionalism and dedication and reaffirmed the company’s commitment to continuing this strategic partnership.
A Qualitative Leap
Minister Jaber honored six Regie employees who were responsible for installing the new production line, while Seklaoui and Karaman presented two honorary shields to Regie’s Head of Industry and Maintenance, Eng. Paul Ghneimé.
In a statement, Regie explained that Philip Morris International provided the new line as a replacement for its previous line, which had limited production capacity, in light of the continued growth in demand for its products manufactured at Regie and a 65 percent increase in its share over the past two years.
The statement noted that “the new line represents a qualitative leap in terms of production capacity and the technology employed, with a capacity of approximately 12,000 cigarettes per minute.”
It added that the line uses a new generation of cigarette manufacturing and packaging technology, enhancing automation, operational efficiency, quality, and reliability.
It also provides the factory with greater flexibility to meet increasing demand, introduce new products in the future, and make use of available capacity in line with its needs and production programs.
Regie emphasized that the project’s particular significance lies in the fact that its own technical teams carried out the majority of the installation and commissioning work locally during an exceptional period when the manufacturers’ technical teams were unable to travel to Lebanon.
This demonstrated Regie’s ability to install and commission state-of-the-art industrial equipment and operate it efficiently, while highlighting the institution’s advanced technical expertise.
Regie stressed that “this achievement reflects the advanced level of technical expertise and capabilities accumulated by Regie’s teams and their ability to work with the latest industrial equipment.”
It added that completing most of the project during the exceptional circumstances Lebanon experienced demonstrates the institution’s readiness to ensure business continuity, maintain production, and implement development projects even during crises.
The statement noted that the decision by a global company of Philip Morris International’s scale to expand its production capacity at Regie confirms the institution’s position as a reliable industrial partner capable of meeting the requirements of international companies.
It added that “the new line represents a significant milestone within Regie’s ongoing strategy to modernize its industrial base, enhance production efficiency, and adopt advanced technologies.”
Regie expects the operation of the new line to increase manufacturing capacity and create new employment opportunities, while supporting local manufacturing, strengthening Regie’s contribution to the national economy, localizing technology and expertise, and providing greater production flexibility.
This will enable the factory to meet growing demand, accommodate future growth, introduce new products, expand its production portfolio, and utilize available capacity to address its future production needs.
Regie concluded that partnerships with international companies contribute to transferring modern industrial technology to Lebanon, developing the expertise of local technical teams, and strengthening their independence and capabilities in managing advanced industrial equipment.