BAT, the largest tobacco company in Romania, is the second contributor to Romania’s state budget, with a total contribution of 10.8 billion lei (€2,1 billion) in excise and taxes to the state budget in 2023. This amount adds to the 26,1 billion euros direct contribution to the state budget in BAT’s close to 27 years of activity on the local market. BAT is the largest player on the tobacco market, with a market share close to 50%, and one of the leading investors and top employer in Romania. The company’s total investments in its Ploiesti factory have surpassed the €500 million threshold since its construction in 1996. BAT created 3,000 jobs in the three entities it operates locally (the tobacco factory in Ploiesti, the national distribution company, and the global business services centre) and generates another 30,000 jobs indirectly, in its value chain. Recently, BAT has extended its teams in Romania and invested in renovating the offices of the two entities in Bucharest, to offer employees functional spaces that encourage flexibility, collaboration, creativity and a reduced impact on the environment. “We are proud to be a significant contributor to the Romanian state budget and economy. For nearly 27 years, we have been dedicated to investing in the development of our people and business, aiming to create a positive impact on society. We actively collaborate with local suppliers and partners, strengthening a supply chain of small and medium-sized enterprises that support a resilient local economy. As we continue to expand our business in Romania, we highly rely on effective and sustainable legislation, including a moderate and predictable excise environment, that safeguards the industry from illegal alternatives and fosters technology and innovation to meet our consumers’ expectations”, said Jorge Araya, South Eastern Europe Area Director, BAT. BAT is also one of the largest manufacturers of top daily consumer goods and exporters in Romania. 60% of the volumes produced in BAT’s factory in Ploiesti, cigarettes, and consumables for glo, BAT’s most innovative tobacco heating product, are exported to more than 50 countries around the world.BAT’s factory in Ploiesti is group’s second largest factory in Europe and among top 5 in the world. BAT is the only company that currently offers adult smokers in Romania all three categories of reduced-risk products, such as vaping, heating products with tobacco and herbal consumables and modern oral nicotine products. The company invests approximately 2 billion pounds annually in the development of reduced-risk alternatives to smoking.