烟草在线据《烟业通讯》报道编译　　菲莫国际及其子公司Papastratos卷烟制造公司称，它们已与希腊政府就未来3年内购买希腊香料烟的事项达成协议。

　　合作协议是由农业部长Athanassios Tsaftaris和菲莫国际首席运营官André Calantzopoulos，在首相安东尼斯·萨马拉斯的见证下签订的。“该协议揭开了我们希腊公司历史上的新篇章，而且建立在我们在希腊的长期竞争力之上的，”Calantzopoulos说。

　　“该协议为菲莫国际购买希腊香料烟确立了一个为期3年的框架，为该国2.5万名烟农和工人创造了一个更可预见的经济环境。”

　　菲莫国际网站上发布的一条新闻称，据说，该协议预计，2013至2015年间，菲莫国际购买的希腊香料烟量将比过去3年的购买量增加20%。

　　“自2003年起，菲莫国际已在希腊投资了约6亿欧元，”Calantzopoulos说，“在这些困难时期，尽管前所未有的危机影响了希腊，但我们不仅仍然坚定不移地支持Papastratos、我们的业务合作伙伴以及该国的经济，而且还扩展我们的业务活动。”

　　同时，出席签约仪式的Papastratos公司总裁兼首席执行官Nikitas Theophilopoulos说，该协议是Papastratos持续向希腊提供了80多年支持及其进一步加强它在希腊竞争力的更有力的证据。

　　“仅2012年，我们在希腊开展了几项加强我们业务的行动，包括打击非法贸易、投资细切烟新生产线以及加强社会贡献项目以帮助有需要的人，”他说。

　　“相比而言，在许多公司都面临着裁员的时期，我们履行了对员工不减薪不裁员的承诺，相反，我们对大部分员工发放了绩效奖金。”

PMI Agrees to Buy More Greek Oriental

　　Philip Morris International and its affiliate, Papastratos Cigarette Manufacturing, say they have reached an agreement with the Greek government regarding the purchase of Greek oriental tobacco during the next three years.

　　The co-operation agreement was signed by the Minister of Agriculture, Athanassios Tsaftaris, and PMI's COO, André Calantzopoulos, in the presence of the Prime Minister, Antonis Samaras.

　　"This Agreement opens a new chapter in the history of our company in Greece and builds on our long-standing presence in this country," said Calantzopoulos.

　　"It establishes a three-year framework for PMI's purchases of Greek oriental tobacco and creates a much more predictable economic environment for the country's 25,000 tobacco farmers and workers."

　　In a note posted on the PMI website, the agreement was said to foresee, during the years 2013 to 2015, purchases of Greek oriental tobacco by PMI increased by 20 per cent on those of the past three years.

　　"PMI has invested approximately 600 million euros in Greece since 2003," said Calantzopoulos. "In these difficult times and despite the unprecedented crisis that has impacted the country, not only do we remain steadfast in supporting Papastratos, our business partners and the country's economy, but we are also expanding our business activities."

　　Meanwhile, Nikitas Theophilopoulos, president and CEO of Papastratos, who was present at the signing ceremony, said that the agreement was more tangible evidence of the support Papastratos had consistently offered to Greece for more than 80 years and of its commitment to further reinforcing its presence in Greece.

　　"In 2012 alone we undertook several initiatives to strengthen our business in Greece including our fight against illicit trade, the investment in a new production line for fine-cut-tobacco and a reinforced social contribution program to help those in need," he said.

　　"In parallel, at a time when many companies are facing cutbacks, we are maintaining our commitment to our employees without salary and personnel cuts, but on the contrary with merit bonuses for the large majority of our workforce." Enditem