Bulgarian Tobacco Technologists to Teach Know-How in Vietnam

Bulgaria's largest cigarette-maker Bulgartabac Holding will send tobacco technologies to work at Vietnam's state-owned tobacco company, Vintaba, as of March 2013, according to a media statement of Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

The cooperation, which was negotiated during the visit of Tsvetan Dimitrov, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and Food, to Vietnam, is to result in the production of cigarettes after a Bulgarian recipe which will be sold in Asian countries.

The entire tobacco industry in Vietnam is run by state-owned company Vinataba.

The company specializes in raw tobacco production, tobacco processing and trade.

Vietnam produces only one type of broad-leaved tobacco of the Virginia type.

The country makes around 28 000 tons of raw tobacco a year, according to data of Bulgaria's Ministry of Agriculture and Food.

Vinataba is a state-owned consortium under the direct control of the Prime Minister of Vietnam.

The state-owned consortium brings together 11 companies for primary processing of tobacco and manufacturing of tobacco products.

Vinataba has joint ventures with Philip Morris and Japan Tobacco International and most of the plants are involved in toll processing for overseas companies.

The state-owned cigarette maker has two own brands of cigarettes and produces around 100 million cigarettes per year.