CNS and BAT mark 30 years of spirited co-operation

The ceremony has recognised a business partnership which has spanned Vietnam’s entire modern era

“The partnership of Saigon Industry Corporation (CNS) and British American Tobacco (BAT) in the past 30 years has brought benefits to the parties involved in particular, and the city in general,” said Le Thanh Liem, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, at a ceremony held recently to celebrate the 30th anniversary of partnership between the two companies.

At the ceremony, a representative of Ministry of Industry and Trade (MoIT) conferred ministry certificates of merit and anniversary medals to the teams and individuals of CNS and BAT, recognising their great accomplishments in contributing to building and developing Vietnam’s industry and trade.

Representing leaders of the municipal committee, Liem also awarded certificates of merit to the excellent teams and individuals of CNS and BAT, recognising their great contributions to the city’s economy and community through the years.

Remarkable contribution to society

“Through 30 years of operation, CNS’s tobacco business has contributed VND31 trillion (over $1.4 billion) to the state budget and created jobs for thousands of employees directly engaged in production, along with several thousand indirect jobs,” Liem said. In addition to its business activities, the corporation has participated actively in a poverty alleviation programme and other charitable activities.

Over the years, CNS and BAT have made significant contributions to the local community.

The two companies have donated nearly VND80 billion ($3.63 million) to Vietnam’s fund for the prevention and control of tobacco. CNS has additionally donated VND60 billion ($2.72 million) for community activities, such as building charity houses and taking care of Vietnamese heroic mothers, who have made numerous contributions and sacrifices to the cause of national liberation, construction, and defense.

BAT focuses on sustainable projects in education, improvements in community living quality, and sustainable agriculture. Other noticeable contributions they have made to Vietnam include building rural roads and bridges, and providing three million seedlings to green 10,000 hectares of barren land in the provinces of Lang Son, Cao By, Gia Lai, Tay Ninh, Dong Thap, and Bac Kan.

Commenting on the partnership milestone, CNS general director Chu Tien Dung said that “CNS and BAT represent an outstanding international partnership in Vietnam. Our cordial relationship over the past 30 years proves the model’s success. To strengthen the partnership, CNS always welcomes new ideas, while BAT makes great efforts to find common interests with CNS. On the journey, CNS and BAT have become the best of partners for each other. CNS is now a conglomerate, but tobacco still helps us achieve solid development.”

Peter Henriques, general manager of BAT in the East Asia Area, described the relationship between BAT and CNS as a “traditional friendship”.

“In our 30 years of co-operation, CNS has been a partner BAT has always trusted and for whom I feel a deep friendship. I personally believe in a long-term strategic partnership between BAT and CNS,” Henriques said.

“Thanks to the respect and trust that flows from this, we can learn from each other and enjoy mutual enrichment. The expertise of CNS, its local insights, and market footprints are valuable assets that have helped BAT build our first strong foundation in Vietnam,” he added.

Contributing to industry and trade

Over the past 30 years of development, CNS and BAT have overcome many difficulties and challenges, consistently complied with regulations in the conditional business sector, and successfully completed tasks assigned by the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. They have contributed significantly to the development of industry and trade in particular, and the country’s socio-economic health in general, including their active role in the fight against smuggled cigarettes.

MoIT, the administrator of their industry, always has a big interest and continues to advise the government to prevent cigarette smuggling. MoIT has actively implemented the prime minister’s Directive No30/CT-TTg, dated September 30, 2014 on strengthening the fight against cigarette smuggling, co-ordinating with 389 committees and relevant functional departments in this effort.