STMA Meets on Invitation of Tenders for Curing Barn Equipment Supply

Source from:  tobacco.gov.cn 04/02/2008

The State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA) - the regulator of China's tobacco industry - held in Beijing on March 24 a meeting on the invitation of tenders for supplying leaf tobacco curing barn equipment for Chinese tobacco manufacturers, to make arrangements for the work of procuring leaf tobacco curing barn equipment and well accomplishing the task of building up-to-standard leaf tobacco curing barns in 2008. The meeting was attended by more than 80 officials with the tobacco industry of China, including leaders of the STMA's Development Planning Department, Supervisory Bureau and China National Tobacco Corporation as well as representatives from relevant institutions. It was reported that the STMA has almost completed the process of recognizing the qualification of a first group of leaf tobacco curing barn equipment suppliers, and eight suppliers have been chosen as qualified suppliers. A list of the first group of qualified suppliers of leaf tobacco curing barn equipment for China's tobacco industry and a catalogue of their products chosen will be released in the near future. Besides, work has been started to recognize the qualification of a second group of suppliers. A list of the second group of qualified suppliers and a catalogue of their products chosen will be released around the end of April 2008. In an address to the meeting, STMA Deputy Director-General He Zehua said that it is imperative to further understand the great significance of building leaf tobacco curing barns that fully meet the relevant technical standards, to stick to the policy of mainly building intensive curing barns in groups throughout whole areas of villages or zones, and to well regulate the management of curing barn equipment supply. He urged adherence to the relevant standards in recognizing the qualification of curing barn equipment suppliers, guarantee of product quality, and efforts to keep up with the times. Any work of inviting tenders for curing barn equipment supply should be fair and impartial, should embody competitiveness, and should be promoted in an orderly way, in order to guarantee the quality of equipment supplied, He said. In the invitation of tenders, there should be clear division of duty, all processes should be well regulated, the work of organization should be strictly done and the relevant disciplines should be seriously observed. The STMA deputy director-general emphasized that as the construction of infrastructure facilities for leaf tobacco production is a priority, the work of leadership must be strengthened in the invitation of tenders for leaf tobacco curing barn equipment supply, in order that all plans will be practically implemented and that all parts of the work will be well done. Enditem