Cooperating on tobacco

Tobacco products might form one element of a proposal under which Lebanon and Iran would co-operate in joint industrial projects, according to a story in The Daily Star, Beirut.

During a meeting on Friday with Mohammadian Shumaki, head of a delegation from the Iranian Tobacco Company, Lebanon’s Industry Minister Hussein Hajj Hasan talked of the need to create such joint projects.

“We agreed with the Iranian delegation on the need to create joint industrial projects, especially when it comes to tobacco production in the two countries,” Hajj Hasan said.

The possibility of producing Lebanese cigarettes in Iran while manufacturing Iranian tobacco in Lebanon had been discussed, he said.

“It is necessary to follow up on this issue with Regie,” he added, referring to Lebanon’s state-owned tobacco company.

For his part, Shumaki said that his visit had been aimed at discussing the outcome of Hajj Hasan’s negotiations with Iranian officials that took place during his visit to Iran last year.

“We are also exploring the best ways to strengthen our relations and co-operation in economic and industrial areas, which will weigh positively on growth,” he said.