BAT pulls out of Burma
Foreign Office Minister Mike O'Brien has expressed his 'delight' at British American Tobacco's (BAT) decision to
withdraw from Burma, following a request from the Government.
The Minister asked BAT to pull out of Burma on 2 July after the Government expressed concern over the country's human
rights record. It has been the UK's long standing policy not to encourage British trade, investment or tourism in Burma.
Mr O'Brien said:
"I appreciate that this was a difficult process, but I am in no doubt that the decision was the right one. It was
inappropriate for a British company which cares about its reputation for corporate social responsibility to be
participating in a joint venture with the business arm of Burma's military dictatorship.
BAT's decision today reinforces the Prime Minister's message in June that trade and investment with Burma is not
appropriate "so long as the regime continues to suppress the basic rights of its people", added the Minister.
On 14 July, Mike O'Brien wrote to the Association of British Travel Agents (ABTA), urging British travel agents who
arrange holidays in Burma to reconsider their operations in that country