Japan Tobacco International (JTI), the international tobacco division of Japan Tobacco, announced on Friday the start of construction for its new production facility at Tetouan Park, within the Tanger Med industrial platform.
Under an overall investment of approximately $92 million, the facility marks a significant milestone in JTI’s development strategy in Morocco and Africa, the company said in a statement reported by MAP, the country’s news agency.
The new factory will be built on a 4.7-hectare site at Tetouan Park, covering an overall area of 18,000 square meters. The green plant will adopt energy efficiency measures, such as using LED lighting and automated systems for lighting, air conditioning, and heating. It will also use rainwater collection and a recycling system to optimize water consumption.
In the statement, JTI’s General Manager for Northern and Western Africa, José Luis Amador, said that the plan reflects his company’s “commitment to the economic and social development of Morocco.”
Amador described the support his company received from central and regional authorities as “exemplary,” adding that it “lives up to Morocco’s reputation for its business climate.”
This project was initially approved by the National Investment Commission in January 2024. It is part of the new 2023 Investment Charter and the import substitution policy for “Made in Morocco” launched in 2020.
At full capacity, the facility will create 170 direct jobs and several dozen indirect jobs, both on-site and off-site in the region.
In line with its sustainability goals, the company said it will ensure women make up 30% of its staff.
The site’s annual production target is set to cover the needs of the domestic market. The company says the capacity can be increased to respond to potential export opportunities.
Officially inaugurated in 2012, Tanger Med has become a magnet for international companies looking to leverage Morocco’s state-of-the-art industrial capabilities to export to Europe and Africa.
As of 2024, the industrial platform is home to 1,300 companies, including some big names in the aeronautics and car manufacturing industries such as Renault Nissan, and Lisi Aerospace.