BAT Korea, $400 Million Export Tower... Executive Director Kang Seung-ho Receives Presidential Citation

Annual 13% Export Performance Increase, Surpassing $409 Million in Exports This Year

(Left) Executive Director Kang Seung-ho and Chief Choi Joo-chul of the Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters of the Korea International Trade Association.

[Asia Economy Reporter Lee Seon-ae] BATKorea announced on the 15th that it was recognized for its continuous export performance growth by simultaneously receiving the ‘$400 Million Export Tower’ and the ‘Presidential Citation’ on the occasion of the 57th Trade Day.

BAT Korea, which received the ‘$300 Million Export Tower’ in 2018, exported $409 million, a 13% increase compared to the same period last year, earning the ‘$400 Million Export Tower’.

The ‘Export Tower’ is awarded by the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy to companies and contributors who have contributed to expanding overseas exports during the year in celebration of ‘Trade Day.’ On the 14th, an award ceremony was held at the BAT Korea Sacheon Plant, hosted by the Korea International Trade Association Gyeongnam Regional Headquarters.

In particular, this year, Executive Director Kang Seung-ho, the plant manager of the Sacheon Plant, added significance by receiving the ‘Presidential Citation.’ Executive Director Kang, who joined the company with the establishment of the plant in 2002, was recognized for his significant contributions to increasing plant productivity, employment growth, export expansion, and attracting new product production, earning the Presidential Citation.

Additionally, Kim Myung-chan, the logistics manager at the Sacheon Plant, was recognized for his contributions to improving the plant’s export performance and the regional economy, receiving the Gyeongnam Governor’s Award.

The BAT Korea Sacheon Plant began exporting domestically produced products to Japan, Russia, Singapore, Hong Kong, and others since 2005. It currently exports about 80% of its production to more than 15 countries worldwide and serves as BAT Group’s production and export hub in the Asia region.

In June last year, the Sacheon Plant surpassed a cumulative production of 300 billion sticks, achieving steady annual production growth. Starting with the ‘$3 Million Export Tower’ in 2006, it has received the Export Tower award a total of 10 times.

Executive Director Kang Seung-ho said, “The achievement of the $400 Million Export Tower and the Presidential Citation is the result of the collective efforts of all 1,000 BAT Korea employees,” adding, “We will continue to strive to establish the Sacheon Plant as an export hub for the Asia-Pacific region and a core production site of the BAT Group.”

He continued, “The Sacheon Plant is investing in eco-friendly areas by introducing solar power generation facilities and utilizing wastewater as production water in line with the ESG strategy presented by the BAT Group,” expressing his aspiration, “We will accelerate a ‘Better Tomorrow’ by mitigating the environmental and social impacts of increasing product production.”

Earlier, on the 9th, the Sacheon Plant laid the foundation for long-term growth by reaching a three-year wage agreement and leading a labor-management win-win grand compromise agreement. It also became the first among BAT production facilities worldwide to acquire Level 2 of the BAT Group’s production efficiency certification indicator, IWS (Integrated Working System), recognizing its high efficiency and productivity.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.