Sampoerna expands overseas

JAKARTA (JP): Cigarette maker PT HM Sampoerna plans to expand into other Asian countries by either building production plants or distribution companies.

The chairman of the company Putera Sampoerna said the main priority was to expand into other ASEAN nations.

"The ASEAN countries are our initial target," he said at the sidelines of the CEO award ceremony held by SWA Sembada magazine yesterday.

PT HM Sampoerna operates a production line in Malaysia and it plans to move to Myanmar, the Philippines and Vietnam soon.

He said total investment for each production plant would be between US$10 million and $20 million. "It is not a big investment," he said. (09)