Tag: ethiopia

  • Baby lost with bath water

    Baby lost with bath water

    The Ethiopian parliament on Tuesday passed what is thought to be the most stringent tobacco-and-nicotine control legislation in Africa, according to a story in The Premium Times.

    The Food and Medicine Administration Proclamation, which was passed unanimously by parliament, will require public places and work places to be tobacco-smoke free.

    The new law will restrict the sale of flavored tobacco products.

    It will ban tobacco advertising and promotions, and require graphic health warnings to be applied to 70 per cent of the front and back of all tobacco products.

    And it will prohibit tobacco sales to anyone under the age of 21.

    In addition, the law will ban the sale of heated tobacco products, electronic cigarettes and shisha.

  • JT taking over in Ethiopia

    JT taking over in Ethiopia

    Japan Tobacco Inc. said today that the JT group was about to sign a share purchase agreement of US$434 million with the Ethiopian government for about 30 percent of the shares of National Tobacco Enterprise Share Company (NTE).

    This purchase will bring the group’s ownership to more than 70 percent of NTE shares.

    The transaction was expected to be completed ‘later today’.

    “This significant increase in our ownership of NTE shares reaffirms our strong belief in the company and Ethiopia as an increasingly important place to do business in Africa,” said Eddy Pirard, president and CEO of Japan Tobacco International.

    “By combining our international and newly acquired local expertise, we are confident that we can take NTE to a new level of growth.”

    JT said in a note posted on its website that since acquiring 40 percent of NTE’s shares last year, the JT group, as the largest shareholder, has been contributing to NTE’s growth by leveraging its international experience in the tobacco business.

    “We would like to express our sincere gratitude towards the government for their trust and for their efficient collaboration in finalizing this transaction,” said Pirard.

  • Life is good again

    Life is good again

    After traveling for nearly 24 hours, watching four movies and almost finishing a badly written book on the Hells Angels motorcycle club, I am enjoying a Zambezi beer in front of my room at York Lodge in Highlands, Harare.

    During past visits, I’ve flown from the United States through either Johannesburg or London. Due to the flight connections, however, this meant either spending the night in Johannesburg or an entire day in London.

    This year, I tried something different, flying through Addis Ababa instead. It’s a long sit, but you don’t waste an entire day waiting.

    My joints are still aching from too many hours in economy class (we wouldn’t dare waste your advertising dollars on frivolous upgrades), but the pleasant weather and agreeable surroundings make it well worth the ride.

    The temperature is a mild 20 degrees Celsius and I am writing in the shade of an acacia tree listening to the songs of birds I cannot identify.

    It’s from this bubble of comfort that I will be reporting on the collapse—and possible rebirth—of the Zimbabwean tobacco industry.