Asia: Tobacco Brands Slip into Myanmar

Source from:  Tobacco World  08/22/2013

As some of the biggest companies in the world trumpet their arrival in Asia's hottest frontier market, the tobacco industry has a different strategy: it slips into Myanmar without fanfare.

The nation of 60 million people emerged from half-century of isolation and brutal military rule two years ago. With the majority of international sanctions against the country suspended or lifted, foreign businesses of Coca-Cola and Unilever in Suzuki Motors hurried to get in.

So there is a Big Tobacco, but without tape cuttings or grandly worded press announcements.

Japan Tobacco, № 3 globally, quietly signed nearly a year ago with a local partner tycoon Kyaw Win. A spokesman for the company Royhei Sugata affirmed that company was being built, but declined to discuss details of the scale or brand name to the plant's location.

The largest producer of tobacco in China is also creating a multi-million joint venture.

"They seem to think by entering the market stealthily, they can avoid public scrutiny," said Tin Maung, a retired army major and Myanmar's top anti-smoking campaigner.

Awareness about the health risks is low, tobacco control is weakly enforced, and the anti-smoking lobby effectively one man act.

Over the past six decades, the 89-year-old Tin Maung has written hundreds of articles in journals and national newspapers, went to workshops inside and outside the country, and visited schools to warn young people about the dangers of smoking, funding for all of its efforts on his own.

Most of the population smoke, but only some of them reach for filtered cigarettes.

According to a 2007 World Health Organization survey, 45% of all men smoke or chew tobacco. Among women and adolescents is 10% and 15%, respectively.

In accordance with current regulations, for example, the tobacco companies can promote their name by offering scholarships to children, sponsor community projects or through social networking sites such as Facebook.

"It is also the only country in the region that still does not require graphic warnings on cigarette packs," said Tara Singh Bam, Technical Advisor on Tobacco Control, the International Union against Tuberculosis and Diseases After leading his second visit to the country since it opened up. Enditem