Aghdam: President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev attended the inauguration of a tobacco products manufacturing facility owned by ‘Tabaterra’ LLC at the Aghdam Industrial Park.
According to Azeri-Press news Agency, the inauguration took place on July 18, with Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov briefing the head of state about the industrial park.
The Aghdam Industrial Park, which spans 190 hectares, was established under a decree by President Ilham Aliyev on May 28, 2021. It is managed by the Agency for the Development of Economic Zones and aims to revitalize liberated territories and enhance Karabakh’s industrial capacity. The park promotes entrepreneurship and boosts employment, prioritizing sectors like construction materials production, agricultural product packaging, food processing, and the development of service and cold storage facilities.
The government has fostered a favorable investment climate in Aghdam Industrial Park, which ranks second in Azerbaijan for the number of resident companies, following the Sumgayit Chemical Industrial Park. So far, 30 business entities have received resident status and four non-resident status, with total investments surpassing AZN 270 million. Over AZN 121 million has already been invested, resulting in more than 650 permanent jobs. More than 70 percent of the park’s territory has been allocated to entrepreneurs, and with the launch of ‘Tabaterra’ LLC facility, the number of operational enterprises in the park has reached 10.
Azerbaijan currently hosts nine industrial parks, including Sumgayit Chemical, Garadagh, Pirallahi, and others, as well as four industrial districts in Masalli, Neftchala, Sabirabad, and Sharur.
Elman Javanshir, Director of ‘Tabaterra’ LLC, informed President Aliyev about the facility, which is established on a 5.5-hectare site with an investment of AZN 58 million. ‘Tabaterra’ LLC also manufactures international brands under license from British American Tobacco, Japan Tobacco International, and Imperial Brands. The facility produces over 120 types of tobacco products across more than 20 brands, operating nine production lines equipped with technologies from Germany, Italy, and the United Kingdom. The products are exported to countries like the United Arab Emirates, Georgia, Uzbekistan, and Iraq.
As a resident of the industrial park, ‘Tabaterra’ LLC benefits from various tax, customs, and other incentives and employs 400 people. The company has purchased 208 apartments in the ‘Aghdam Residence’ complex for its employees, providing them free of charge during their employment period. Last year, the company was recognized as one of the top exporters in Azerbaijan’s non-oil private sector and the largest taxpayer in this segment.
To support the tobacco value chain, ‘Tabaterra Leaf’ LLC was established in 2021 and won the investment competition for the privatization of ‘Azertutun’ OJSC. With an investment of AZN 15 million, the company has modernized infrastructure and improved the quality of locally grown tobacco. Operating in Sheki, Gakh, Zagatala, and Balakan districts, it manages tobacco collection and processing facilities and a Tobacco Processing Plant with an annual capacity of 3,000 tons. Starting in 2027, the company plans to develop 500 hectares in Gubadli district for tobacco cultivation and processing, contributing to economic revitalization and job creation in the liberated territories. The total investment value of the projects by ‘Tabaterra’ LLC stands at AZN 79 million.