International Tobacco and Cigarette Company (ITC) is a Limited Liability Company  and a subsidiary of the Eqbal Investment Company PLC  headquartered in Amman, Jordan, embodied by its core values of quality, service, and price, and represented by its      dedicated engineers, cigarette and tobacco analysts, marketing and administrative personnel. ITC offers a diversity of cigarette products for a variety of local and regional tastes.

Since its establishment in 1992, ITC continues to show leadership, flexibility, and creativity in its business and community approaches. The company's growth record since it began production in late 1994 has been increasing steadily. As we begin the new century, ITC is at the heart of the Kingdom's fastest growing establishments. Its success stems from its business acumen, its pursuit of excellence, and its company family spirit.

The setting:
During the decades prior to ITCs establishment, just one national cigarette company was operating, producing local cigarettes for the Jordanian market, while the Ministry of Supply was importing foreign cigarettes in controlled quantities. Lacking competition, the diversity and quality of products and services in the market were limited. The Jordanian cigarette market therefore was stagnant and a black market (transit) for imported cigarettes flourished.

Consequently, the Jordanian national tax and customs accounts suffered substantial losses and the value of hard currency lost by Jordan was unofficially estimated at $38 million per year.

Accelerated Growth:
Since its inception, ITC exhibited a track record of excellence with exports equivalent to 1.5 times the total consumption of the Jordanian market. By October 31, 2000, export growth rate peaked at 558%.

In the local market, ITC gained 90% with its local cigarette brands, increasing its total market share in Jordan to 40%.

In 1999, a profitability growth rate of 475% was recorded.

A solid relationship with its agents, suppliers, and international partners has allowed ITC to develop export and production operations that have become a model for the country. ITC has developed further its relationship with international partner Philip Morris, based on mutual trust and a win-win, value-added collaboration.

Raising the standards:
Mr. Fakhoury's vision, which led ITC to partner with multi-national companies, encouraged the production of premium international cigarette brands, strengthening the sluggish Jordanian cigarette market, and improving the quality of cigarettes while maintaining affordable prices. Further, ITC single-handedly reduced by about 50% the hard currency lost by Jordan because of the black market (transit) business: from 1995 to October 31, 2000, ITC paid $231 million in customs duty and sales tax.

Some of ITC export markets also benefited from the introduction of ITC quality brands as they had been previously saturated with low-quality products.

Strengths:
As a private-sector establishment, ITC is flexible, creative, and has quick decision-making abilities. Its cultural awareness and insight into regional markets give ITC a lead over multi-nationals in the region. ITC easily adjusts to the cultural norms in the export countries it enters, meeting market requirements with its diversified products. Cushioned between three continents, ITCs location in Jordan is an asset, providing global markets with minimal delivery time.

Social Responsibility:
ITC is committed to maintaining the company's excellence not just as a leader in the premium cigarette industry but also by being innovative in its community approach and sense of integrity. ITCs establishment resulted in a significant increase of the total industry workforce in Jordan and the region. It gives financial assistance to tobacco farmers and their families, and contributes annually to various donations and charities within the Jordanian community.
 

Within the company:
ITCs 550 member workforce is dynamic, productive, and increasing rapidly, having started with 180 employees. Each year, a number of these highly educated employees are sent on training programs outside Jordan to keep abreast of the fast-changing technologies. Employee initiatives, decentralization in decision-making, and encouragement to voice ideas, reflect an ingrained climate of healthy management-employee cooperation.

ITC management is committed to its employees' welfare in various other areas, such as giving moral and financial assistance to employees needing medical attention; sponsoring employees' children by educating those with outstanding academic high school records; and, supporting talented employees at the amateur national level by giving them the time and necessary tools to train and refine their skills, whether in sports, the arts, or the sciences. ITC poets and artists add flavor throughout the departments.

Additionally, The ITC soccer team, along with family and friends, meet regularly on weekends on the field at company premises, and employees gather annually with members of the board to celebrate the company anniversary and share the fruits of its success