กรุงเทพฯ--28 ส.ค.--124 Communications
Founded in January 2012, the Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) announces its official launch today. The TTTA will serve as the voice for tobacco retailers, wholesalers, distributors, logistic providers and importers on important issues related to the tobacco industry.
Mrs. Varaporn Namatra, Executive Director, Thai Tobacco Trade Associiaton said, “The TTTA’s primary function will be to represent the views of its members in communicating with Government authorities, the media and others on issues of shared interest and concern, including taxation and regulations. As such, the Association will strive to be the preferred partner for the Government on tobacco industry policy and the preferred source for the media on tobacco industry stories.”
The TTTA will assist its members by providing information, advice and education about the industry and the Association will focus its efforts on five cores areas:
- Creating a rational and balanced regulatory regime
- Working to prevent youth smoking
- Finding programs to help the trade to give back to local communities
- Supporting government anti-illicit trade efforts
- Ensuring fair and reasonable taxation of all tobacco products
“The TTTA currently has more than 1,300 members from across the country, indicating that a large number of retailers are interested in the TTTA’s core areas and that they share similar values and views,” added Mrs. Varaporn Namatra.
According to the latest data from the Excise Department, there are nearly 500,000 registered holders of tobacco selling licenses in the country today1, and the value of revenue generated from selling cigarettes is 12.6% of total retailer revenue2. In addition, tobacco products generated more than 57 billion baht in excise tax revenue for the government, equivalent to 14.3% of the entire excise tax collected, in fiscal year 20113. Thus, given the importance of the industry, any future tax decisions should be made only after consulting with the trade and considering the total impact on the retail community.
For more information about the Thai Tobacco Trade Association, please visit the TTTA’s website, www.ttta.or.th. For retailers who are interested in becoming TTTA’s members, please download the application form from our website, www.ttta.or.th (first-entry registration fee: 200 THB, annual membership fee: 100 THB).
Source:
1 Data from the Excise Department, Ministry of Finance
2 Data from AC Nielson, April 2012
3 Data from the Excise Department, Ministry of Finance
About Thai Tobacco Trade Association:
Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA) was established in January 2012 with the objective of reflecting the perspectives of tobacco-product retailers, wholesalers, and distributors towards tobacco-related issues in order to solve problems and concerns within tobacco trading industry. Topics will cover laws and regulations on tobacco taxation, illegal tobacco product deterrence, and other related campaigns such as youth smoking prevention and local CSR initiatives. Moreover, TTTA is a center of communication between tobacco business sectors and government and media. For more information, please visit www.ttta.or.th
Thai Tobacco Trade Association (TTTA):
31/1208 Soi Klong Luang 17 Moo 16
Tumbon Klong Neung, Amphor Klong Luang
Pathumthani 12120
Tel. 0 2516 3958
Fax. 0 2516 3946
E-mail
[email protected]
Website www.ttta.or.th
Media contacts:
124 Communications Consulting Co., Ltd Tel 0 2718 1886
Krittiya Nontanakorn,
[email protected], ext 226
Niracha Ruenroeng,
[email protected], ext 150