煙草在線據(jù)《新津巴布韋》報道編譯　　按銷量算，世界第二大煙草公司英美煙草（BAT）上周四（1月23日）表示，它不打算離開，或從津巴布韋撤資。

　　該公司在過去幾年一直被津巴布韋總統(tǒng)羅伯特·穆加貝攻擊，也在符合該國本地化法律方面承受了巨大的壓力，該公司表示它致力于增加津巴布韋主要出口作物的價值。

　　英美煙草津巴布韋公司的總經(jīng)理洛夫莫爾馬·曼塔斯（Lovemore Manatsa），說：“我們公司在向前做計劃。因此，2014年，我們將像過去100多年所做的那樣，繼續(xù)堅定地專注于津巴布韋最有價值的農(nóng)業(yè)商品——煙草的附加值。”

　　在津巴布韋證券交易所（ZSE）上市的英美煙草津巴布韋公司，56.95%的股權由總部位于倫敦的英美煙草國際公司所有，其他主要股東包括英國耆衛(wèi)保險公司（Old Mutual）等，該公司占有19.1%的股權。

　　不過，當局表示，該公司只有6.22%的股權本地化，這就迫使管理層想出一個計劃，以符合要求外國公司在津巴布韋的業(yè)務至少51%的所有權和控制權本地化的賦權法律。

　　根據(jù)其計劃，英美煙草公司說，到2013年10月，它必須滿足36%的股權本地化，2014年10月達到46%，2015年10月達到51%。

　　該公司表示，它還將向員工持股信托（ESOT）捐出占已發(fā)行股本10%的股份，作為合規(guī)計劃的一部分。

　　“我們非常自豪我們對我們的員工以及這個國家的承諾。賦權一直存在于我們做生意的方式中，”該公司在周四（1月23日）的一份聲明中表示。

　　“英美煙草津巴布韋公司的員工持股信托和煙草賦權信托，證明了我們在煙草業(yè)和這個國家的可持續(xù)發(fā)展上的投資。”

　　“我們非常重視在正式和非正式部門的貿(mào)易伙伴，他們對津巴布韋經(jīng)濟的增長和我們業(yè)務的成功表現(xiàn)作出了重要貢獻。”

　　“在關于如何吸引和留住對我們制造業(yè)和這個國家的投資的民族對話中，英美煙草津巴布韋公司渴望成為一個建設性的合作伙伴和企業(yè)公民。”

　　“我們相信我們在津巴布韋有強大的業(yè)務，因為我們堅持高標準的商業(yè)行為，這是被我們所有的利益相關者認可的。”

評論：

　　在津巴布韋，包括農(nóng)業(yè)、交通運輸、零售和批發(fā)、房地產(chǎn)租賃、廣告等許多行業(yè)幾乎都是被外國人所壟斷的，而當?shù)厝酥荒苎亟只蛟诼愤厰[攤，他們對此十分惱火，不斷游說政府部門采取措施。本地化法律正是津巴布韋政府保護當?shù)厝说囊豁椫匾獩Q定，外資企業(yè)不得不進行股權轉(zhuǎn)讓，最終使當?shù)毓煞菡?1%以上。這種強制性的本地化進程，很顯然會損害外資企業(yè)的利益，迫使他們出讓自己的對企業(yè)的所有權和控制權，但是這個市場仍是有利可圖的，并且可以協(xié)助當?shù)卣鉀Q國民經(jīng)濟的困境，保持該國政治經(jīng)濟環(huán)境的穩(wěn)定，這對于企業(yè)本身的長久發(fā)展也是有利的。因此，英美煙草的做法是明智的。

British American Tobacco Says Not Exiting Zimbabwe

　　THE world's second largest tobacco firm by sales, British American Tobacco (BAT, said Thursday it does not plan to leave or divest from Zimbabwe.

　　The company, which has over the last couple of years been attacked by President Robert Mugabe and also come under pressure over compliance with the country's indigenisation laws, said it was committed to value addition of Zimbabwe's major export crop.

　　"Our company plans forwards. As such, in 2014, as we have done for over 100 years, we remain firmly focused on value-addition to Zimbabwe's most valuable agricultural commodity - Tobacco," said Lovemore Manatsa, Managing Director of BAT Zimbabwe

　　Listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange (ZSE), BAT Zimbabwe is 56.95% owned by London-based BAT International with other major shareholders including Old Mutual which has a 19.1% stake.

　　However, authorities said the firm was only 6.22% indigenized, compelling management to come up with a plan to comply with empowerment laws that require foreign companies to localise ownership and control of at least 51 percent of their Zimbabwe operations.

　　Under its plan, BAT said it would have to meet 36% indigenous status by October 2013, 46% by October 2014 and 51% by October 2015.

　　The company said it would also donate shares representing 10 percent of its issued share capital to an employee share ownership trust (ESOT) as part of the compliance plan.

　　"We are incredibly proud of our commitment to our people and the country at large. Empowerment is entrenched within the way we do business," the company said in a statement Thursday.

　　"The BAT Zimbabwe Employee Share Ownership Trust and Tobacco Empowerment Trust evidence our investment in the sustainable development of our industry and country.

　　"We value all our trade partners in the formal and informal sector who have contributed so significantly to the growth of Zimbabwe's economy and the successful performance of our business.

　　"BAT Zimbabwe aspires to be a constructive partner and corporate citizen in the national dialogue on how to attract and retain investment in our manufacturing sector and country.

　　"We believe we have a strong business in Zimbabwe because we uphold high standards of business conduct and this is recognised by all of our stakeholders." Enditem