British American Tobacco agrees deal with state firm

07:18 - 15 March 2016

Pall Mall cigarettes are seen after the manufacturing process in the British American Tobacco Cigarette Factory (BAT) in Bayreuth, southern Germany, April 30, 2014. REUTERS/Michaela Rehle

"With the production of Dunhill International in Mali, Sonatam's production will be brought to 3.2 billion cigarettes compared to 1.7 billion currently," Issouf Traore said.

British American Tobacco has signed a deal with Malian state tobacco company Sonatam to produce and distribute BAT's Dunhill International cigarettes in Mali, Sonatam's chief told state radio on Saturday.

Sonatam will invest 7 billion CFA francs ($11.90 million) by 2020 to upgrade its production facilities. The upgrade will create 600 jobs, 200 of which are permanent, said Traore.

($1 USD = 588.38 CFA francs)