Toyota restarts production at new Myanmar plant after 19-month wait
The facility stood idle as the Southeast Asian country struggled through a military coup and the pandemic
12 October 2022 - 09:30
byReuters
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TOYOTA-MYANMAR REUTERS/Pierre Albouy/File Photo Image: PIERRE ALBOUY
Tokyo — Toyota said on Wednesday it has begun assembling cars at a new plant in Myanmar whose start was put on hold for more than 19 months after a military coup and during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Japanese carmaker said the plant, which is opening even as other companies have pulled out of the country, has begun to assemble one or two vehicles a day, working from parts kits shipped to Myanmar in September.
Japanese companies and other multinationals have faced pressure to pull out of investments in Myanmar that have been seen to benefit the military.
“We believe this meets our initial intention to contribute to the industrial development of Myanmar ... and to support our employees and their families' lives,” Toyota said in a statement.
“Under these circumstances, we are continuously making every effort to comply with all relevant laws and regulations.”
The plant had originally been due to open in February 2021, the same month that the military seized power to stop former leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) forming a new government.
In June, Japanese drinks company Kirin Holdings said it would sell its stake in a Myanmar joint venture with a military-linked local partner.
The Toyota plant is in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a manufacturing and logistics hub outside the business hub of Yangon built with Japanese investment.
Toyota had said in 2019 it would begin to assemble Hilux trucks in Myanmar. Its decision to restart production was first reported by the Nikkei Business Daily.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Toyota restarts production at new Myanmar plant after 19-month wait
The facility stood idle as the Southeast Asian country struggled through a military coup and the pandemic
Image: PIERRE ALBOUY
Tokyo — Toyota said on Wednesday it has begun assembling cars at a new plant in Myanmar whose start was put on hold for more than 19 months after a military coup and during the coronavirus pandemic.
The Japanese carmaker said the plant, which is opening even as other companies have pulled out of the country, has begun to assemble one or two vehicles a day, working from parts kits shipped to Myanmar in September.
Japanese companies and other multinationals have faced pressure to pull out of investments in Myanmar that have been seen to benefit the military.
“We believe this meets our initial intention to contribute to the industrial development of Myanmar ... and to support our employees and their families' lives,” Toyota said in a statement.
“Under these circumstances, we are continuously making every effort to comply with all relevant laws and regulations.”
The plant had originally been due to open in February 2021, the same month that the military seized power to stop former leader Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) forming a new government.
In June, Japanese drinks company Kirin Holdings said it would sell its stake in a Myanmar joint venture with a military-linked local partner.
The Toyota plant is in the Thilawa Special Economic Zone (SEZ), a manufacturing and logistics hub outside the business hub of Yangon built with Japanese investment.
Toyota had said in 2019 it would begin to assemble Hilux trucks in Myanmar. Its decision to restart production was first reported by the Nikkei Business Daily.
Reuters
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