China: STMA Chief Urges Strengthening of Efforts to Fulfill Plan to Promote Cigarette Production

Source from:  TobaccoChina Online 11/08/2010

Directo-General Jiang Chengkang of the State Tobacco Monopoly Administration (STMA), who is also general manager of China National Tobacco Corporation, has urged full-scale strengthening of efforts to fulfill the ambitious general plan of China's tobacco industry to promote cigarette production in China to a higher level.

Speaking at a meeting for studying theories of the Communist Party held in Beijing on October 20-22, Jiang raised a three-point requirement for full-scale strengthening of efforts to fulfill the general plan for promoting cigarette production to a higher level: Firstly, it is essential to always attach great importance to the basic work of leaf tobacco production and trade. In this respect, the tobacco industry of China should adhere to the policy of "total quantity control and moderate austerity", strive to realize balance and coordinated development of the total quantity and structure of supply, earnestly promote the development of a modern tobacco agriculture, strive to realize modernization of leaf tobacco production, attach greater importance to improvement of leaf tobacco quality, and better meet the needs for the development of competitive cigarette brands. Secondly, efforts should be made to meticulously develop well-known cigarette brands, and to enhance the competitiveness of existing cigarette brands on a full scale. In this regard, the tobacco industry of China should manage to give full play to the basic and leading role of marketing to the development of well-known cigarette brands, strengthen and improve its system of innovation, strive to increase its competitiveness, practically well handle the work of production of cigarettes under license, earnestly do a good job of grading and appraising well-known cigarette brands, give full play to the leading role of brands grading and appraisal, and strive to realize certain breakthrough in sales at international markets. And thirdly, efforts should be made to strengthen basic management on a full scale, and keep promoting regulation in management. In this endeavor, the tobacco industry of China should always attach great importance to and earnestly do a good job of the work of strengthening regulation in management, strictly control costs, strive to increase the efficiency of utilization of resources, and practically strengthen supervision and control over assets of the tobacco industry. Enditem