[2] His major business interests include Htoo Group and Air Bagan, the country's first and only fully privately owned airline.
The military council allows Tay Za's Htoo Group to import over US$5.4 million worth of palm oil per month to Myanmar.
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.
[12] In March 2012, the European Court of Justice ruled that Pye Phyo Tay Za be allowed to regain access to his accounts in Europe, as he had testified that he was not connected to his father's business interests.
[13] On 7 October 2016, the United States Department of the Treasury implemented termination of the Burma Sanctions Program[14] in accordance with the Executive Order issued on the same date by the U.S President Barack Obama,[15] which effectively removed Tay Za, along with other Business Tycoons from OFAC's Specially Designated Nationals list.
On 2 September 2021, Tay Za and his business empire Htoo Group were sanctioned by the UK for providing financial support and arms to Myanmar's military.
"[2] Tay Za established Htoo Foundation on 5 May 2008, after Cyclone Nargis devastated the Ayeyarwady Region and along with his group of companies provided emergency relief supplies to the survivors in Bogalay Township, spending over US$8 million for the reconstruction of schools, hospitals, monasteries and government offices in the area.