KT&G establishes Uzbekistan corporation

South Korean tobacco maker KT&G Corp. said on Monday it established the Uzbekistan corporation, aiming to boost its tobacco brand awareness in the Eurasian markets and expand exports.

KT&G opened a Uzbekistan office in 2023 to export local-customized tobacco products under the Esse brand.

Last year, the company sold 270 million pieces of its seven brands in Uzbekistan. KT&G's best-selling product Esse Change was the most popular, accounting for 64% of the export volume. 

KT&G plans to strengthen its brand awareness by more than quadrupling its local workforce and establishing a detailed sales network in Uzbekistan. 
 
Write to Sul-Li Jun at sljun@hankyung.com