GOOD news for the tobacco industry: A French paper manufacturer is keenly interested in buying tobacco pulp from the Philippines to sustain its annual requirements for paper-making.

No less than National Tobacco Administrator Carlitos S. Encarnacion made the announcement. Schweitzer-Mauduit International, Inc., a paper company based in Quimperle, France is negotiating for importation of tobacco pulp from Manila after their sample tests showed that NTA’s tobacco pulp is of good quality.

NTA has been producing pulp from tobacco stalks as main component in its research and development program on other uses of the tobaco pulp. Now it seems its modest efforts have paid off and Philippine tobacco has been noticed — definitely a ray of sunshine once again on what some have labelled (because of the scientific warnings on health risks in smoking) a sunset industry.

With the French buying our tobacco pulp, more jobs and investment oportunities are there for the grabbing. Here’s hoping the deal is a done one. Schweitze-Mauduit is known as a “diversified producer of premium specialty paper” and is also among the world’s largest supplier of fine paper.