Upcoming webinar launch: “Lost Funds: Regional study on the tobacco tax revenue gap in selected ASEAN countries”

As part of efforts to raise awareness of the WHO FCTC Article 6 implementation, REEP and the Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA) will be hosting a webinar on 23 July 2021 (at 9:30-11:00 AM Bangkok, Thailand GMT+7) on: “Lost Funds: Regional study on the tobacco tax revenue gap in selected ASEAN countries”.

Dr Hana Ross, Principal Research Officer for REEP, has been invited to speak in her capacity as author of the above-mentioned regional study. Her presentation will cover the background of the report, key findings, and recommendations to the ASEAN governments.

The Southeast Asia Tobacco Control Alliance (SEATCA), a multi-sectorial alliance established to support ASEAN countries in developing and putting in place effective tobacco control policies. In past years, SEATCA has worked closely with various Ministries of Finance in the region to advocate for effective tobacco tax policy as recommended by the WHO Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (WHO FCTC) Article 6 Guidelines (Price and tax measures to reduce demand for tobacco). The webinar aims to present they key findings of tobacco tax revenue gaps as a result of static/low tax rate and complex tax structures in 4 selected ASEAN countries (Cambodia, Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam) and raise awareness among policymakers in ASEAN countries to strengthen tobacco tax policies and administration as well as showcase success stories of two ASEAN countries in utilizing the tobacco tax revenue for public health and COVID-19 response.

Read the full background document and see the programme here.