Jump to full article: Business Times (my), 2003-06-14
Intro: THE country's tobacco industry will be restructured to prepare local growers and curers for market liberalisation of the commodity under the Asean Free Trade Area (Afta) in 2010.
Primary Industries Minister Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik said yesterday that the restructuring plan will be drawn up by the National Tobacco Board with the cooperation of cigarette manufacturers.
"Tobacco growers and curers have to take active participation in the restructuring exercise," he said, adding that individual growers and curers should pool their resources to cut production cost and increase productivity.
Dr Lim said local growers will not be able to compete with their Asean counterparts because of the lower production cost in those countries.
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