The New Nation - Internet Edition

Philip Morris International (PMI) announced that it has entered into a long-term license agreement with Sk. Akijuddin Limited, part of Akij Group of Bangladesh, to manufacture, distribute and market Marlboro cigaretes in Bangladesh.

"We are delighted to have Akij Group as our business partner in this important market This agreement will benefit both the companies and I am confident that our cooperation will support the success of Marlboro in Bangladesh going forward," said Mateo Pellegrini, President, Asia for PMI.

Local manufacturing and distribution of Marlboro will be handled by Dhaka Tobacco Industries, a division of Akij Group. Dhaka Tobacco Industries is the largest tobacco company in Bangladesh, producing approximately 20 billion cigaretes in 2006 for an estimated total cigarete market share of about 40 pc Its major trademarks include Castle. Navy and Sheikh. Currently it distributes cigaretes to over 460,000 retail outlets throughout the country.

"This is a great day for our company and our employees. Manufacturing and distributing Marlboro will allow us to offer the adult consumers of Bangladesh the world's leading international cigarete brand and will provide a tremendous opportunity for the Akij Group and, in particular, our subsidiary Dhaka Tobacco Industries," said Sk. Nasir Uddin, Chairman, Sk. Akijuddin Limited.'

Philip Morris International, based in Lausanne, Switzerland, held a 15.4% share of the international cigarete market in 2006. Its brands, led by Marlboro and L&M, are sold in over 160 countries around the world. Philip Morris International is an operating company of Altria Group, Inc. For more information see www.philipmorrisinternational.com

Based in Dhaka, Bangladesh, Akij Group was founded in 1950. Akij Group has subsidiaries in various industries such as tobacco, jute, cement, printing & packaging, food & beverage and textiles, generating employment for more than 44,000 people. For more information, see www.akij.net