Gate to British American Tobacco Myanmar factory.
British American Tobacco will cease operations in military-ruled Myanmar and withdraw by the end of this year, British American Tobacco said last week.
"Like any global company, we continuously evaluate our operations around the world,” Madeeh Pasha, BAT’s corporate affairs manager MESA (Middle East and South Asia) said in an email to Tobacco Asia magazine. “Having evaluated the long-term operational and commercial viability of our business in Myanmar, we have taken the decision to withdraw from the country and cease all operations.”
Myanmar is in chaos since the military coup which ended a short-lived almost 10-year period of democracy in a country long ruled by military dictators. Reuters reported that BAT did not elaborate on its decision to pull out of the country, but many companies have given up their operations in Myanmar due to the continuing anti-business environment, crackdowns on protests, and killing of civilians.
“The business discontinuation is expected to be completed by the end of 2021,” Pasha told Tobacco Asia. “We are in discussions with the impacted BAT employees about next steps and will remain committed to supporting them through the process.” BAT Myanmar employs around 400 people.
BAT corporate website has not released an official press release on this move. In fact, the only press release on their website on Myanmar is from 2013 announcing BAT’s “return” to the country.