Japan International Tobacco sets up IT hub in Romania

Japan International Tobacco (JTI) said on Tuesday that it has recently established a technological hub in Romania’s capital of Bucharest.

The IT hub in Bucharest employs around 140 people who provide support services, including business technology solutions, data and analytics, software engineering, and cyber-security, for various activities within the tobacco company, JTI said in a press release. The company is considering expanding its staff here in the future.

The value of the investment in the IT hub was not disclosed.

JTI has been present in Romania since 1993 and currently employs over 1,400 people in its Bucharest headquarters, its factory, the newly-established IT hub, and in more than 30 sales offices throughout the country. JTI Romania also coordinates the company’s activity in the Bulgarian and Moldovan markets.

Globally, JTI is headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland, and operates 38 factories as well as eight research and development centres worldwide.

The new IT community benefits from flexibility of office hours including work from home, engaging and fun events, and great learning opportunities.

In 2024, JTI received the Top Employer certification in Romania for the 11th year in a row, following the evaluation of over 20 criteria, such as leadership, work conditions, on-boarding, talent attraction, development policies, learning, well-being, and remuneration.

Alexander Pitchka, General Manager of JTI Romania, Moldova and Bulgaria stated: “The technology hub established in Romania is one of the most important among the six global technology centers established by JTI worldwide and symbolizes our continued strong commitment to success of Romania. For sure we will continue our story of success, investing in local business, in production capacities, in brands and in our people”.

“JTI’s commitment to developing our Digital and IT HUB in Bucharest stems from our recognition of the exceptional talent and expertise that this region offers. The synergy and innovation within our teams here are driving our capabilities to new heights, and we are dedicated to cultivating this vibrant ecosystem further. Together, we will continue to push boundaries and achieve remarkable success”, added Tom Greene, Senior Vice President Chief Digital and Information Officer and GBS.

JTI has a total of over 1,400 employees in Romania, in the Bucharest headquarters, the factory, in the recently established technological hub and in over 30 sales offices throughout the country. JTI Romania also coordinates the Bulgarian and Moldovan markets.

JTI is one of the first multinationals established locally, since 1993. The company has invested over 300 million euros in the local market, plus around 30 million euros in social and cultural projects.

JTI’s business in 2023 for the two entities operating in Romania, JTI Trading and JTI Manufacturing, exceeds 1.7 billion euros. In addition to excise duties, JTI also transferred to the budget VAT, plus other taxes, and contributions, representing in total over 75% of the turnover, namely about 1.3 billion euros.

JTI started its activity in Romania more than 30 years ago, in 1993 (as R.J. Reynolds) and since then has been actively involved in the community: the company is a partner of FITS, TIFF, George Enescu Festival and Philharmonic, the Brukenthal Museum, the National Art Museum, Village and Romanian Peasant Museums, the National Theater Museum, the Madrigal Choir, the “Story Tours” – series of musical tours in small towns, the SoNoRo Festival, the CoolSound and Applause for the poet projects, as well and official sponsor of “Gigi Căciuleanu Romania Dance Company”. JTI was awarded by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan for the promotion of Japanese culture in Romania.

JTI supports the Japanese Garden from Herăstrău, the Tea House from the National Art Museum and the Center for Romanian Japanese Studies within the Romanian American University. “JTI Encounters”, launched in 2000, have become a national cultural brand in contemporary dance. The company supports, since 2000, the JTI Scholarships for Journalists. Since 1998, the JTI Seniors program has been carried out, through which 45 elderly people from District 2 receive food and medicine daily, and over the years the company has collaborated with Samusocial, Ateliere fără frontiere, ARC, SoSiSeSa and other NGOs, supporting social projects and people from disadvantaged categories in various areas of the country, or interventions in emergency situations (as a result of the pandemic, war, floods, etc.).

photo credits: https://www.jti.com/