Regie Company
Encyclopedia
The Regie Company was a parastatal company formed in the later Ottoman Empire
by the Ottoman Public Debt Administration
, with backing from a consortium of European banks. The company had a monopoly over tobacco
production. Revenue from the Regie Company was supposed to help overcome the Ottoman state's persistent shortage of income. The Regie Company constituted the largest foreign investment in the Ottoman Empire, and it attempted to introduce more efficient production methods - against local resistance.
In 1881, the state monopoly on salt was incorporated into the Regie Company, which passed revenue from salt taxes (tuz resmi
) to the Public Debt Commission. As the state (or a parallel state controlled by the government's creditors) now effectively controlled salt production and salt prices, salt smuggling became a problem.
In Turkey
, the Regie Company was nationalised in 1925 and became Tekel
, which was sold to British American Tobacco
in 2008.
There are successor companies in other Ottoman successor states. To this day, the state-run tobacco monopoly in Lebanon
is known as Regie.
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
by the Ottoman Public Debt Administration
Ottoman Public Debt Administration
The Ottoman Public Debt Administration , was a European-controlled organization that was established in 1881 to collect the payments which the Ottoman Empire owed to European companies in the Ottoman public debt...
, with backing from a consortium of European banks. The company had a monopoly over tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
production. Revenue from the Regie Company was supposed to help overcome the Ottoman state's persistent shortage of income. The Regie Company constituted the largest foreign investment in the Ottoman Empire, and it attempted to introduce more efficient production methods - against local resistance.
In 1881, the state monopoly on salt was incorporated into the Regie Company, which passed revenue from salt taxes (tuz resmi
Tuz resmi
The tuz resmi was a tax on salt in the Ottoman Empire.During the 15th century, households working in the salt industry were exempted from taxes such as avariz, in return for their contributions to tuz resmi...
) to the Public Debt Commission. As the state (or a parallel state controlled by the government's creditors) now effectively controlled salt production and salt prices, salt smuggling became a problem.
In Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
, the Regie Company was nationalised in 1925 and became Tekel
Tekel
Tekel, is a Turkish tobacco company. It was nationalised in 1925 from a French company, the "Regie Compagnie interessee des tabacs de l'empire Ottoman". Tekel evolved into the sole manufacturer and distributor of all alcohol and tobacco products in Turkey...
, which was sold to British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco
British American Tobacco p.l.c. is a global tobacco company headquartered in London, United Kingdom. It is the world’s second largest quoted tobacco company by global market share , with a leading position in more than 50 countries and a presence in more than 180 countries...
in 2008.
There are successor companies in other Ottoman successor states. To this day, the state-run tobacco monopoly in Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
is known as Regie.