AFRICA whole of the country through a major factory which develops , manufactures and exports tobacco products – in Ibadan as the central operational base and with extended operations in Zaria .
“ We are a very proud Nigerian company because we started our operations over 100 years ago in Nigeria and we are still here to this day in Nigeria and will continue to be here ,” says Kyalo .
Locally sourced industry leaders As a Nigerian tobacco company BAT strives to support and develop the local communities in which it operates in . This is exemplified in the number of local suppliers that provide BAT with the necessary raw materials to create and manufacture industry leading tobacco products . Since 2003 , with the construction of the Ibadan processing factory , BAT has developed a portfolio of over 1000 local suppliers and farmers , which all serves the overriding goal of benefiting Nigeria .
“ Our goal is to stimulate the local economy and we believe in supporting local suppliers and businesses to grow in structure and become much more competitive ,” says Segun Abati , Procurement Business Manager , BAT .
The bulk of BAT ’ s supplier base , around 80 percent , is made up completely of local suppliers . This allows the company to provide great leverage for local businesses to grow through close working and infrastructure development with BAT . The local supply chain is almost the sole provider of the raw materials that BAT requires to manufacture its products which comes from about 1000 farmers across Nigeria , while also working with local companies to provide shipping cases for export and ink for printing .
Through the very nature of the business , BAT also exports to international partners and has a strong portfolio of international suppliers . Kyalo states that two thirds
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