Philip Morris International has launched an office in Uzbekistan.

Uzbekistan, Tashkent – According to Podrobno.uz, the official office of Philip Morris International (PMI) was recently inaugurated in Tashkent. This marks the second office in the Central Asian region, following the one in Almaty. The ceremony was attended by the team of employees and partners, featuring a traditional ribbon-cutting event.

https://podrobno.uz/cat/economic/philip-morris-international-otkryla-ofis-v-uzbekistane/2025-02-28 08:12:42

"Philip Morris International has been present in the Uzbekistan market since 2020. At that time, the company was represented by a few product lines, a small office, and a team of several people. Instances of smuggling were recorded in stores, and we actively worked to stop this and ensure the market was supplied with legal products," said Sinan Tav, General Director for Central Asia, at the opening.

Now, PMI has a legal entity in the republic, an office, and a large, young, ambitious team ready to achieve results.

"We are currently on a long and meticulous journey in the Uzbekistan market. We continue to develop our professional team and invest. The opening of the office is an important step on this path," stated Andrey Dmitriev, General Director in Uzbekistan.

Opening the Country

According to Enrique Jimenez, Managing Director of Philip Morris Kazakhstan and Central Asia, several factors motivated the company’s leadership to open an office in Tashkent. One of them is the impressive economic growth and infrastructure development in Uzbekistan.

"The volume of foreign investments in the republic increased by almost 60% last year. The country is actively working on regulatory reforms and integration into international organizations, such as the WTO," shared the interviewee.

As part of its strategy to expand its presence in the country, the company has set three goals. To continue commercializing legal and high-quality products, develop localization, and strengthen the team with highly specialized personnel.

"The majority of our products are produced in collaboration with our partners at Tashkent Tobacco. Developing local production is one of our main tasks, which will also help meet the expectations of the country’s economy," emphasized Jimenez.

A Springboard to an International Career

The company managers see an important mission in developing the human resource potential of the republic. According to them, Uzbekistan has vast talent resources, and they can grow professionally not only within the country but also at the company’s locations abroad. Philip Morris International operates in over 180 countries worldwide.

"The most important thing PMI can offer is a job at a company that is a global leader in its field. It’s a place where young people can genuinely develop an international career. Sinan and I (I’m from Spain, he’s from Turkey) are a vivid example," said Enrique.

It’s noteworthy that for nine consecutive years, the company has received the "Global Top Employer" award from the Top Employers Institute, confirming excellent working conditions. In particular, PMI promotes diversity and inclusivity, as they believe it only enhances the company.

"We provide comfortable working conditions and create a supportive atmosphere for people with special needs. Additionally, PMI is the first company to receive the Equal-Salary certification, which confirms equal pay for equal work, regardless of gender. If you are a good professional, it doesn’t matter if you are a man or a woman, with or without disabilities—just come work with us, and we will take care of you," concluded Enrique Jimenez.

Feeling at Home

The newly opened office in the center of Tashkent is intended to be a venue that allows Uzbeks to get acquainted with the internal workings and values of a global company.

"Our three main values, which form the DNA of PMI, are: 'We care for each other. We are better when we are together. We set the rules of the game.' Based on this, we aimed to create the most relaxed and homely atmosphere for our Uzbek colleagues," noted Sinan Tav.

He justified this by stating that employees spend a lot of time in the office, so it’s crucial that each of them feels happy, which fosters close collaboration and active idea exchange among them.

Furthermore, in organizing the office space, the company followed its global mission of sustainable development. The result of this approach is that all office furniture has eco-certifications, the energy supply system is built on energy-saving principles, and there is a system for separating and recycling waste.