PMI May Retrofit Its Ukraine Factory to Produce New Tobacco Products

Philip Morris International plans to retrofit production equipment in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to attract investment and develop the new tobacco product category.

According to a brief report by RBC-Ukraine on October 10, Philip Morris International (PMI) may upgrade its production facilities in Kharkiv, Ukraine, to support the development of new tobacco products and attract investors. 

Maxim Barabash, General Manager of Philip Morris Ukraine, said in an interview, “Given the complex situation in the region, we are currently unable to make any plans for resuming production in Kharkiv, so our top priority at the moment is to open a new factory.” 

He said, “At the same time, we are also following PMI’s long-term strategy, which is to develop the new tobacco product category and align production accordingly. This could create a new opportunity for us to attract substantial investment and retrofit our factory equipment in Kharkiv.” 

To achieve this goal, favorable conditions for development are essential—fiscal and regulatory policies, as well as state support for innovation. He added, “At present, these conditions are much worse than in neighboring EU countries, but we hope the situation will change.”