Local cigar manufacturer looks to conquer foreign markets

Cigars from Georgia’s magnificent mountains of Adjara region could soon appear on shop shelves all over the world. 

Local tobacco manufacturer Imeri is expanding, looking to conquer foreign markets and bring benefits back to the local economy.

Imeri has already started negotiations with Chinese investors to export Georgian cigars to China. 

Imeri's director Tamaz Turmanidze told Agenda.ge that Chinese investors were visiting Georgia to negotiate with Imeri company representatives. 

Turmanidze explained he earlier visited China, took some Georgian cigars with him and showed them to his Chinese hosts, "which they liked".

Now they came here and we are discussing some specific issues related to the export of Georgian cigars to China,” Turmanidze said.

Once the negotiations had completed, the export of Georgian cigars to China will begin.  

Meanwhile Imeri was also negotiating with Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Poland, Kazakhstan and Belarus regarding the export of Georgian cigars to these nations.

Imeri cigars have already been exported to Turkey, where they are available in Duty Free shops.

Imeri cigars are also sold locally. The product is available in Georgia’s major towns Kutaisi, Batumi, Zugdidi, Poti and capital Tbilisi.

Imeri was financed within the state program ‘Produce in Georgia’.

In total $250,000 USD was invested in the company, of which $40,000 USD was agricultural credit allocated by the state.

Currently Imeri produces more than 30 types of cigars and about 60 cigar accessories.

Imeri has been growing the traditional variety, Georgian oriental tobacco trial batches since 2007 in Adjara, Keda municipality. 

The first Georgian cigar samples were made on May 5, 2009 in Indonesia where the oriental tobacco Keda version was defined in Indonesian, Cuban and Dominican Republic tobacco combinations.

Imeri has been producing Georgian handmade cigars, cigarillos and six kinds of wrapping tobaccos since 2014.