KHUJAND, February 24, 2011, Asia-Plus  -- Open joint-stock company (OJSC) Tabak, based in the northern city of Panjakent, plans to double areas under tobacco this year.

The enterprise director Qahramon Pirov says they planted two tobacco brands – Virginia and Dubec – on 200 hectares last year.

“This year, we plan to plant tobacco on 400 hectares and to produce 500-600 tons of tobacco,” Pirov said, justifying the decision by increase in demand for tobacco outside Tajikistan.  “We now export dried and fermented tobacco to Kyrgyzstan and Russia,” he noted.

Asked about further plans of the company, Pirov said they have signed a memorandum of cooperation with Japan Tobacco International (JTI).  “If we manage to establish good cooperation with them, they will invest in modernization of our enterprise,” Pirov noted.

OJSK Tabak was established in 1963 and 25 people now work for the enterprise.  The owner of OJSC Tabak is private entrepreneur from Panjakent.