The investment is expected to create close to 700 new jobs over the next few years, subject to the successful completion of the investment process and market conditions. The construction of the new facilities is expected to be completed by mid-2014. The company currently employs nearly 3,000 people and has invested to date over PLN 1,5 billion (USD 500 million) in Poland.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Olek Grzesiak, Managing Director Philip Morris Poland and Baltic States, said “I am really pleased that Krakow was chosen by Philip Morris International (PMI) for yet another investment, which will further strengthen the position of our business in Poland and our ability to continue to compete efficiently and effectively in the European market.”
“The decision to start constructing new manufacturing and office facilities in Krakow was made due to the growth of our business in Poland. Over the past ten years, our Krakow factory’s cigarette production volume has increased from 30 billion to over 50 billion cigarettes per year and is still growing with about 70 percent of production destined for exports today.”– added Grzesiak.
Key to choosing Krakow for this new investment is the competitiveness and efficiency of the existing factory, as well as Philip Morris Polska’s strong expertise with tobacco products manufacturing, including its highly qualified staff of engineers, technicians and machine operators.
“I am proud that our factory was selected for this new, significant investment. The factory expansion will allow us to increase our production capacity by up to about 30% and create new jobs in the process” – said Marek Kalinowski, Director Operations.
The planned investment project will be carried out using the most modern technologies, equipment and technical solutions that meet Philip Morris International’s high quality standards and reduce any potential impact on the local environment and community.
