Article Spotlight: British American Tobacco's access to policy-makers in Cambodia

MacKenzie R, Collin J.
'A preferred consultant and partner to the Royal Government, NGOs, and the community': British American Tobacco's access to policy-makers in Cambodia. Global Public Health 2016 04/15:1-17.

British American Tobacco Cambodia (BATC) has dominated the country's tobacco market since its launch in 1996. Aggressive marketing in a weak regulatory environment and strategies to influence tobacco control policy have contributed to a tobacco-related public health crisis. BATC officials have successfully aligned the company with Cambodia's political and business leadership with the aim of gaining access to policy-makers and influencing the policy process. These connections have resulted in official recognition of BATC's purported contribution to Cambodia's economic and social development and has provided the company with opportunities to water down tobacco control regulation.

• Corporate News: BAT Cambodia (1995)
  Cambodia Tobacco Company, owned by businessman Kong Triv, becomes the local partner in the BATC joint venture with a 29% share.


• Indochina Company Plan 1996-1998
  "...handling government officials both at provincial and national levels on a variety of topics needs to be addressed through lobbying and meetings. It is imperative that anti-tobacco marketing restrictions are pre-empted by a balanced counter view presented at the highest levels in government and the media."


• BAT Cambodia Company Plan: 1997 - 1999
  Speaks of a need to "further build up on our relationship with the Government so as to protect our commercial freedom and ensure a level playing field on excise and related commercial issues"...Among BATC's greatest concerns were "policies on tobacco, role of regulation, environmental tobacco smoke and reasons for retaining freedoms to advertise".


• 1998-2000: BAT Cambodia Limited: British-American Tobacco Marketing Narrative
  Objectives include: (1) Continue to promote the positive image of BAT Cambodia, and British American Tobacco. (2) Monitor the regulatory environment maintaining free market conditions allowing the Company to sell its products competitively. (3) Add value by supporting optimum trading conditions, especially in relation to excise and tariffs, and maintain consumers freedoms to smoke. (4) Crisis management concerning key areas for the period: security issues, trading issues, operational changes, political developments