Sampoerna's HEETS Factory in West Java Inaugurated

Philip Morris International's subsidiary in Indonesia, Sampoerna, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on January 12 in Karawang City, West Java for a factory that produces IQOS HEETSpod. The factory, which began construction in the fourth quarter of 2022 and has an investment of over $186 million, will serve customers in Indonesia and the Asia-Pacific region and aligns with the government's policies to encourage investment and increase finished product exports. Minister of Economic Affairs Coordination, Airlangga Hartarto, said during the opening ceremony that the investment will stimulate innovation and create value in other sectors, such as retail, agriculture, and research and development. PMI reports that the Indonesian factory is its seventh innovation factory for smokeless products worldwide and its first in Southeast Asia. Sampoerna CEO Vassilis Gkatzelis expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government for creating a favorable investment environment and for its commitment to maintaining economic stability. He also noted PMI's significant investment in smoking alternatives, with over $9 billion invested in developing, scientific research, and commercializing smoke-free tobacco products. IQOS first appeared in limited market tests in Indonesia in 2019 and has been listed in cities such as Jakarta, Surabaya, Denpasar, and Bandung.