SYRIAN TOBACCO MARKET THRIVING
November 1st, 2009
BY PAUL COCHRANE
THE SYRIAN tobacco market, dominated by the state-run General Organisation of Tobacco (GOT), is witnessing substantial growth on the back of rising domestic demand and export of Syrian tobacco leaf, with average annual growth of 10% to 13%, according to the GOT.
"The number of people smoking is increasing year by year, because of young people taking up the habit," said Fares Beshara, a member of the GOT board of directors. The median age in Syria is 21.7 years old.
Smoking prevalence in Syria is high at 30.3% of the population, ...
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