K4bn tobacco company opens in Lilongwe

The company owned by the Tobacco Association of Malawi (TAMA), which owns 49% in shares, and Premium Tobacco Holdings Ltd, which holds 51%, has since created 200 jobs and has increased Malawi's tobacco processing capacity to 200 million kilogrammes from 140 million kilogrammes.

The company's managing director, Tom Malata, described the company as unique because it is wholly owned by Malawians "from top to bottom."

With the arrival of the new player in the processing market, the country will only export 24 million kilogrammes of unprocessed tobacco from the 224 million kilogrammes produced.

TAMA director of finance, Lemi Chitawo, said they decided to venture into the tobacco processing business in order to allow its members to enjoy Malawi's higher tobacco value chain so that they earn more from the leaf.

The company expects to be contributing towards the country's export earnings an estimated US$120m annually.