Tay Za

pagename (possibly born 18 July, 1967) [ [http://pseudonymity.wordpress.com/2007/10/25/us-focuses-on-burmese-tycoon/ "Pseudonymity" blogspot] ] is a Burmese businessman.

Business holdings

His major business interests include Htoo Holdings and Air Bagan, the country's first and only fully privately-owned airline.http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=14151] In 2006/2007 Htoo Trading, a division of Htoo Holdings involved in teak log exports, was Burma's top private exporter and fifth largest overall, with gross revenues of $65.1 million. [ [http://www.mmtimes.com/no369/b004.htm Myanmar Times, June 4-10, 2007] ] His son, Thida Zaw, recently bought the London Cigarette Company, a large cigarette maker in Burma, and is believed to control the tobacco industry.

Other activities include construction, tourism, infrastructure projects, and mobile telephone services. He maintains close relations with the military leadership - a son of key junta member General Thura Shwe Mann serves on the board of Htoo Trading, [ [http://news.sg.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=826949 MSN News/Agence France Presse, 22 October, 2007] ] and his Myanmar Avia Export, Burma’s sole representative of Russia’s Export Military Industrial Group and of the Russian helicopter company Rostvertol, [ [http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=9085 The Irrawaddy, October 23, 2007] ] was instrumental in the junta’s 2002 purchase of advanced MiG-29 fighters for US$130 million. [ [http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2007/oct/07/burma.peterbeaumont The Guardian, 7 October, 2007] ] ,

Relationship with the junta

Sean Turnell, an economics professor at Australia's Macquarie University who specialises in Myanmar, calls Tay Za "easily the most flamboyant of the tycoons that Burma has produced" [ [http://news.sg.msn.com/regional/article.aspx?cp-documentid=826949 MSN News/Agence France Presse, 22 October, 2007] ] According to Thailand-based opposition sources, he and former drug-lod Lo Hsien Han paid for the $300,000 wedding of the daughter of Senior-General Than Shwe in 2006, and he is reported to be romantically involved with another daughter. [ [http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=5597&page=6 The Irrawaddy] ] Than Shwe's family frequently stay at a Tay Za-owned resort at Ngwe Saung on Burma's northwest coast, [ [http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=340017&area=/breaking_news/breaking_news__international_news/ Mail&Guardian (South Africa), 24 May 2008] ] and he is reported to act as a business agent for the family in Singapore. [ [http://www.irrawaddy.org/article.php?art_id=9085 The Irrawaddy, October 23, 2007] ]

anctions

In 2007, following protests against the junta on the streets of many cities in Burma, the United States government imposed sanctions against Tay Za and the companies he controls including Htoo Trading and Air Bagan. [ [http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2007/10/20071019-12.html Executive Order: Blocking Property and Prohibiting Certain Transactions Related to Burma ] ] [ [http://www.ustreas.gov/press/releases/hp807.htm HP-807: Treasury Action Targets Financial Network of Burmese Tycoon and Regime Henchman Tay Za ] ] .

References