Tashkent, Oct. 11 -- Philip Morris International (PMI) is offering a range of less harmful alternatives for smokers and has invested USD 16 billion in research, development and commercialization of such products, Dr Tomoko Iida, Senior Director, Scientific Engagement, South Asia, Indochina, CIS and Middle East & Africa, Philip Morris International, said.

"We have invested 16 billion dollars in research, development and commercialization of these less harmful products," she said, adding that "science has shown us that smoking cigarettes can cause diseases, and it became clear to everyone."

She further added that this was where the company decided that it needed to transform itself, in a world where more than 1 billion smokers still exist...