Ties with Myanmar military put pressure on western companies

Western companies are facing growing calls to break ties with businesses run by Myanmar’s military after last week’s coup threatened to cast the impoverished south-east Asian country back into full-blown dictatorship. The Japanese drinks company Kirin Holdings has announced it will abandon its involvement with a Myanmar brewery after a six-year partnership because of its close links to the military. Many western firms rushed back into the country to seize commercial opportunities presented by the opening up of a country of 55 million people after the return of democracy.

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