| Regional Affairs
With Aung San Suu Kyi’s Rise, China and Myanmar Face New Relationship The New York Times 12th Nov 2015
Even though China has long supported the generals who have wielded most of the power in Myanmar, the government in Beijing prepared this year for the possible election victory of the opposition leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, by inviting her to the capital to meet with President Xi Jinping. In the June visit, Ms. Aung San Suu Kyi was polite, paid deference to China as an important country and did not live up to fears that she might refer to democratic principles or her fellow Nobel Peace laureate, Liu Xiaobo, the Chinese writer who is serving 11 years in prison.
National Affairs
In Burma, another vote for democracy The Washington Post 16th Nov 2015
Eight Years ago, after the military rulers of Burma had bloodily repressed the latest uprising for democracy in their Southeast Asian nation, we published on the opposite page an essay by one of the Buddhist monks who had led the nonviolent protests. Given that he was on the run from police at the time and that democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi was under house arrest, U Gambira’s message may have struck some readers as naive bluster. “What Burma’s Junta Must Fear” was the headline.
Ethnic groups expect Suu Kyi to secure peace Eleven 16th Nov 2015
The government and political parties say peace talks will be held under the current government in order not to violate the nationwide ceasefire agreement’s timeframe. However, the talks to make decisions about democratisation and the establishment of a federation would be held under the next government. The ceasefire, signed between the government and eight ethnic groups on October 15, says the first set of political talks must be held within 60 days and the second within 90. Aung Min, representing the government, urged political parties to select 16 representatives to form the Union Political Dialogue Joint Committee, which he said was essential for the political talks. Aung Naing Oo from the Myanmar Peace Centre said it would be challenging to complete the first set of talks by December 15.
Foreign Investors Want Continuity After Elections: Report The Irrawaddy 16th Nov 2015
Despite Burma’s electorate sending a clear signal at the polls that they want change, foreign businesspeople are being quoted in international media insisting that the continuity should be the order of the day when it comes to matters economic. Foreign companies welcomed the reform process initiated by incumbent President Thein Sein after his quasi-civilian government assumed power in 2011, which has seen limited industries in the economy opened up to investment. Oil and gas exploration rights and telecommunications licenses have been offered up to private companies from overseas in what have been considered successful and surprisingly transparent tender processes. But favorable sentiment has been tempered by continuing US sanctions, and the elections have made for an uncertain business climate, with some potential investors apparently deciding to “wait and see” how the country’s political machinations will work themselves out.
President to parties: Stability during transition is responsibility of all Myanmar Times 16th Nov 2015
The president had convened the meeting, with representatives of all 91 parties that contested the November 8 election, to assure them that he would oversee a smooth transition of power in a process that will continue until the opening months of next year. However, the president appeared to deflect a request from participants to take immediate action on a number of fronts. Speaking to the party representatives from the Yangon Region government, he faced requests to use the remainder of his term to halt military offensives in ethnic areas, particularly in northern Shan State, to release political prisoners and students awaiting trial for their opposition to the National Education Law, to finalise a decision on the Myitsone hydropower project, and to press ahead with an inclusive ceasefire accord. In response, U Thein Sein said, “Some actions will be taken under the rules and regulations during the transitional period. Others are of longer-term duration.”
Burma’s Militarized Ministries Foreign Policy 15th Nov 2015
It didn’t take long after polling stations across Burma closed on November 8 for the country’s ruling party to concede defeat. “We lost,” the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) chairman Htay Oo said bluntly, unable to argue with early indications that suggested the party of Aung San Suu Kyi had won a convincing landslide. Her National League for Democracy (NLD) will dominate the new parliament in January. This is the second such victory for the party in 25 years, but the first that appears likely to be accepted.
Ethnic Parties Left Hanging on the Telephone for NLD Coalition Offer The Irrawaddy 12th Nov 2015
The two strongest performing ethnic parties in Sunday’s poll have expressed a desire to collaborate with the next government, but acknowledge that any coalition arrangement will hinge on the magnanimity of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in the aftermath of that party’s emphatic victory. Based on preliminary results, both the Arakan National Party (ANP) and the Shan Nationalities League for Democracy (SNLD) have fared much better than their ethnic party counterparts in other states across Burma. The ANP believes it will form the next government in Arakan State, predicting wins in 25 of the state parliament’s 47 seats. Despite party chair Dr. Aye Maung losing the contest for the state seat of Munaung No. 2 to NLD rival Boe Nwe, the party also looks on track to pick up the majority of Arakan’s Union constituencies.
The NLD and a new dawn for old business Myanmar Times 12th Nov 2015
The past few days have been filled with casualties, as moguls hoping to re-take their seats in Nay Pyi Taw are expelled in favour of new faces. Some of the biggest names in business under the former regime – Yuzana Company’s U Htay Myint, Zaykabar’s U Khin Shwe, U Yan Win of A1 Group of Companies and U Tint Hsan of ACE Construction – to name a few – appear to have found themselves on the losing end of the vote. They had risen to the top on the coattails of concessions from the military, dominating sectors such as real estate, agriculture and mining. As a result, many found themselves in conflict with villagers in their constituencies over the past few years, which may have lost them some support. However, despite this recent setback, many businesspeople will have no intention of giving up their power, said Mike Davis of Global Witness.
Election Analysis: Ethnic parties fail to live up to expectations Myanmar Times 12th Nov 2015
While none came out and said it had an agreement in place to make a formal alliance with either of the two main parties, it looked as if parties representing ethnic interests might well be able to negotiate considerable concessions in exchange for their parliamentary support. But amid widespread jubilations over the scale of the National League for Democracy’s victory, initial results would suggest most of the ethic parties have not done well. People are already asking what went wrong. The question may yet prove to be over simplistic. For a start, as of Thursday night, results showed that the total number of seats won by about a dozen ethnic parties roughly equalled the USDP’s meagre haul. Comparisons with the 1990 election, the last country-wide election in which the NLD stood, are only so helpful. Constituency boundaries have changed. The USDP, which has been running the country as a nominally civilian government since 2011, did not exist. A number of ethnic parties have since been disbanded and new ones created.
NLD leader seeks talks on transition Myanmar Times 12th Nov 2015
Expressing his intention to cooperate with the opposition National League for Democracy in a transition process that will take several months, President U Thein Sein was cited in a letter penned yesterday by his spokesperson U Ye Htut as saying the government wanted a peaceful transfer, and would honour the people’s will and the election results. Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wrote three separate letters to the president, military Commander-in-Chief Senior General Min Aung Hlaing and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann requesting talks by the end of next week on the basis of “national reconciliation”. “For the sake of the nation’s dignity and the happiness of the public, it is crucial that their desire shown through the November 8 general elections be fulfilled in a stable, peaceful and correct way,” said her letter, sent on November 10. As the latest slow tally of official results last night showed the NLD heading for an overwhelming majority in parliament, party activists and foreign observers expressed relief at the pace of political events which were raising hopes of a peaceful and historic transfer of power.
Hope of stability for local business as NLD takes lead Myanmar Times 12th Nov 2015
Provided the incoming government maintains the necessary stability and transparency, remaining sanctions could be lifted, completing the country’s political and economic transition and its re-entry into the international community as a fully-fledged member. International reaction to the peaceful and largely well-organised poll on November 8 has been very positive, based as it is on detailed reports from international and local observers present throughout the country. Many observers now see redoubled opportunities for investment that can build on the preliminary steps taken under the current government since 2011. U Soe Htun, chair of Myanmar Automobile Manufacturers’ and Distributors’ Association, said that foreign investors also support the NLD and will therefore be willing to invest more. “It may be that the United States will revoke remaining sanctions. A more transparent economy would encourage further investment, bringing commercial development and further opportunities.”
Communal violence haunts Meiktila vote Myanmar Times 12th Nov 2015
Voters yesterday told The Myanmar Times they felt the Union Solidarity and Development Party representatives were a better option for their security. The township’s sizeable Muslim community is believed to have bolstered the results in favour of the USDP. The choice appears to be a surprising one, given the ruling party’s links to anti-Muslim hardliners from Ma Ba Tha, and the lobby group’s attempt before the polls to wield their political clout against the NLD, castigating Daw Aung San Suu Kyi as a Muslim sympathiser. The township went red in the last 2012 by-election, opting overwhelming for the NLD’s U Win Htein – who, although not standing for re-election, remains one of the party’s main public figures – for the seat vacated by U Thein Aung, who was forced to resign after being appointed deputy minister for industry. Not long after the vote, the violence flared.
Obama Commends Thein Sein for Reform, Election The Irrawaddy 12th Nov 2015
US President Barack Obama commended President Thein Sein for successful conduct of Burma’s historic Nov. 8 poll via phone call around 8:30am on Thursday. President’s spokesperson Ye Htut shortly thereafter shared a post on Facebook summarizing Obama’s remarks. “The victory of the election is a historic milestone, and President Thein Sein should be proud of it. The reform process that has been bravely initiated by President Thein Sein is a unique success for the future of Burma,” Ye Htut quoted Obama as saying, adding that the United States was prepared to continue its cooperation with the Burmese government.
NLD to Select Two VPs, With Presidency in Reach The Irrawaddy 12th Nov 2015
As the National League for Democracy (NLD) continues to rack up seats in the Union Parliament following Burma’s general election on Sunday, the party has won the power to choose two of the country’s vice presidents, and increasingly looks likely to also pick the president if returns continue to trend heavily in its favor. With the party’s share of seats growing each day this week, so too have prospects for Burma to see its first head of state credibly elected, albeit indirectly, in more than five decades. Since a 1962 coup, the Southeast Asian country has not had a leader chosen by the people. Successive military regimes ruled Burma from 1962 until 2011, while incumbent President Thein Sein came to power following a rigged 2010 general election.
Myanmar military congratulates NLD for election win Myanmar Times 11th Nov 2015
The Tatmadaw has congratulated the National League for Democracy for its landslide victory in the November 8 general election. A statement was posted a few minutes ago to the Facebook account of the military's media portal, Myawady. “We would like to congratulate the National League for Democracy because it is leading in the election results,” the statement said. The Tatmadaw said it would join the NLD, President U Thein Sein and Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Speaker Thura U Shwe Mann for talks toward "national reconciliation" next week.
Fishy Business: Aquaculture Businesses under Scrutiny as Drug Fronts Myanmar Business Today 11th Nov 2015
Following a record K500-billion worth narcotic arrest, Myanmar Anti-drug Police Force will investigate the possessions and businesses of fishery industry owners, according to Colonel Myint Thein from anti-drug police force. The main suspect of the case, Min Oo Khine, managing director of Kaladan Delta Development, was arrested in Myawaddy recently. Kaladan Delta Development Company is listed as a fishery production company, but is allegedly a front for selling drugs. After Min Oo Khine’s arrest, police raided a house in East Dagon and seized K790 million worth methamphetamine tablets and phensedyl bottles. Police also arrested three Chinese citizens in Mandalay and Lashio in connection with the case. Police colonel Myint Thein said, “We will now investigate all fishery businesses as to whether they are running real businesses are drug fronts. We have issued warrants for 12 men directly related to this case, but arrested only one who is their leader. We have arrested nine additional persons of interest and are trying to arrest the remaining suspects soon.”
President congratulates NLD, promises peaceful power transfer Myanmar Times 11th Nov 2015
President U Thein Sein has congratulated the National League for Democracy on its landslide victory in the November 8 vote and promised a peaceful transfer of power, the party said. The NLD said in a statement this afternoon that Minister for Information U Ye Htut, a presidential spokesperson, congratulated the party for its win on behalf of U Thein Sein. The NLD said the president thanked the party for its cooperation in the November 8 general election and pledged his support for a peaceful transfer of power once its win is confirmed by the Union Election Commission. “In accordance with the Union Election Commission’s election results announcement, I would like to congratulate you, the NLD, for leading the race for parliamentary seats,” the NLD quoted U Ye Htut as saying.
EU, Myanmar to Cooperate on Climate Change Issues Myanmar Business Today 11th Nov 2015
The European Union and the Myanmar government has pledged to strengthen cooperation on climate change ahead of the adoption of a new global climate deal in Paris this December. In a workshop on climate change, the Ministry of Environmental Conservation and Forestry together with other ministries, civil society representatives, the private sector, and the EU and other development partners, discussed the draft National Climate Change Strategy and Action Plan in Myanmar. The Plan is supported by the Myanmar Climate Change Alliance, a flagship programme of the government to increase its institutional and technical capacities to address climate change. In addition to taking stock of the progress so far, key elements of the strategy and action plan were agreed upon by the participants with a view of presenting these at the Paris conference.
UEC frustrates with lack of results Myanmar Times 10th Nov 2015
The UEC, headed by ex-general U Tin Aye, says it is working with full transparency and yesterday promised that results would be released at three-hourly intervals throughout the day. But by last night it had only confirmed outcomes in 28 out of 330 townships. At a tense press conference held at UEC headquarters in Nay Pyi Taw, UEC official U Myint Naing was asked for a timeframe for results. “As soon as possible,” came the reply. “It mainly depends on … how fast they can count,” he added, referring to township- and district-level sub-commissions. “We will announce in a timely manner as their counting finishes,” he said, denying that the UEC had instructed townships not to release official results.
This election means business Myanmar Times 10th Nov 2015
It was my first-ever vote! It was very memorable and very emotional the whole day especially looking at the elderly who came to vote, women crying for a glance at Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, and observers and other volunteers working hard together to make sure the election was free and fair. I was very young in the 1990 elections and the 2010 election wasn’t a real one since it didn’t have people’s parties and leaders were still under house arrest. That’s my personal view. In the business community, everyone was very surprised when we said the National League for Democracy was going to win a majority landslide. Not many people we met shared the same thoughts. But that’s what I believe in and hope for. I have no doubts as long as it’s free and fair. Although I am pleased with the preliminary results and believe this is one big step forward, there are many things to do in this country even if after the NLD forms a government.
After Burma’s elections, the costs of voter disenfranchisement may come to bear Asian Correspondent 10th Nov 2015
Anyone who spent election evening outside the headquarters of the National League for Democracy (NLD) in Yangon will know that the party’s victory means a great deal to millions of people, and for good reason. The crowds that gathered as early results came in did so to celebrate the looming shift in the composition of parliament, from a military-aligned majority towards a civilian majority. But they are also celebrating the mere ability to exercise voter freedom after a half century without that privilege. The celebrations are as much for the result as they are for the newfound power of the ballot box. Yet many in Burma have been unable to share those rights, and the implications of this could be far-reaching. Sizeable, and politically important, communities in Burma have either been left out of the vote, or are staring at the prospect of a parliament that lacks obvious representative voices for their constituency.
Investors relieved, optimistic after provisional results Myanmar Times 10th Nov 2015
Many said the quiet streets, “surreal serenity” and peaceful atmosphere of election day were a promising sign. Sunil Seth, country head of Tata Group, said it was a “great feeling to be in Myanmar at this critical and historic moment”, and Myanmar representative for the International Finance Corporation Vikram Kumar called it “a truly momentous day in the history of the country”. “One could sense the tremendous positive energy brimming under the surface,” he said. U Maung Maung Lay, vice chair of the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry, said, “The election proved that we are somewhat civilized and orderly, though democracy is still immature.” National reconciliation and peace should prevail, he added. “We can regain our past glory. More investments from far and near can be expected and we can gain more ambitious heights. I am now very optimistic.”
Myanmar vote boosts hopes of lifting sanctions - if army accepts result Reuters 10th Nov 2015
The United States on Monday welcomed Myanmar's election as a victory for the people, and the vote appeared to raise prospects of a further lifting of U.S. sanctions -- provided the military accepts the results. While highlighting encouraging signs from Sunday's poll, Washington remained cautious and said it would watch for the democratic process to move forward before lifting more sanctions, which still target more than 100 individuals and businesses and limit U.S. investment in Myanmar. The ruling party in Myanmar, a country also known as Burma, conceded defeat on Monday in the country's first free general election in 25 years. The opposition led by democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi appeared on course for a landslide victory that could ensure it forms the next government. White House spokesman Josh Earnest said the election process was encouraging and "represents an important step in Burma's democratic process." "What is clear is that for the first time ever, millions of people in Burma voted in a meaningful, competitive election," he said.
Fresh Clashes in Shan State the Day after Election The Irrawaddy 10th Nov 2015
The day after Burma’s historic election, clashes have once again broken out in Kyethi Township, where the Shan State Army-North (SSA-N) say the Burma Armed Forces have used aerial forces and artillery in an attack on its Wan Hai village headquarters. “They have been attacking us since yesterday evening at 6pm,” said SSA-N spokesman Sai Hla on Tuesday morning. He claimed that two Air Force planes had strafed the area in the morning, destroying a Buddhist monastery, which The Irrawaddy has so far been unable to independently confirm. “We are still collecting information about how many villagers were wounded. We do not know about causalities yet,” he said, adding that all villagers from Wan Hai had already fled the area.
Initial list for Yangon Stock Exchange includes FMI, Myanmar Citizens Bank and Thilawa Public Co Eleven 9th Nov 2015
The initial list of companies to join the Yangon Stock Exchange includes FMI, Myanmar Citizens Bank, and Thilawa Public Co, according to the Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar (SECM) on November 3. “Nine companies that might be in the list were chosen initially. More are still applying. We will select the best ones from among them. We have not closed the applications. It will always be open. Nine companies are being scrutinised in the first group. If more companies come, we will accept and scrutinise them, too. Yesterday, we called all of them and made introductions. Today, we called three companies – FMI, Myanmar Citizens Bank and Thilawa Company, and we were all satisfied,” said Dr Maung Maung Thein, chairperson of the SECM. The companies that will be allowed to sell stock shares in the Yangon Stock Exchange will be announced on the opening day of the stock exchange.
Myanmar land prices highest among developing countries Eleven 9th Nov 2015
The average rate of one square metre of land in Myanmar is US$605, which one of the highest rates among developing countries, but real estate is still a huge component of Myanmar’s investment sector, according to a statement released by house.com.mm on Monday. One square metre of land ranges between $200-$260 in other developing countries such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Indonesia. It is commonly believed that investing in property market is more promising than in jewellery and stock share markets. The country’s property market is pricier than that of Singapore. The speculators have controlled buildings in prime lands, disrupting the market prices. About 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the overall investment capital is spent on land in Myanmar, while it comprises only 20 per cent in other countries, according to Sushant Bihani, the senior manager of the UK-based real estate firm Savills.
After Historic Election, Burma’s Military-Backed Rulers: ‘We Lost’ Foreign Policy 9th Nov 2015
One day after Burma’s first free election in a quarter of a century, election officials are still tallying the votes. But the overall trend is already clear enough — so clear that the ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) was forced to acknowledge a dispiriting reality. “We lost,” USDP Chairman Htay Oo told Reuters. “We have to accept our voters’ desire,” said President Thein Sein. “Whoever leads the country, the most important thing is to have stability and development.” Neither man needed to mention the name of the winner; it was only too obvious. The victory belongs to the leader of the opposition, Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi, known here simply as “the Lady,” and her National League for Democracy (NLD). She, for her part, gave a speech to supporters that eschewed gloating and emphasized social harmony: “Victory or failure, that is not important. What is important is how we win or lose. Those who lose should bravely concede, while those who win should humbly celebrate the victory. That is a true democracy.”
Military-linked tycoons claim political middle ground Myanmar Times 9th Nov 2015
Spokespeople for some of the country’s most successful companies including Asia World, Htoo Group, Kanbawza (KBZ) Group and Max Myanmar said as private businesses they had no political alliances. U Nyo Myint, senior managing director at KBZ Group, said his company had made no donations to political parties. “We do not engage in any politics and we actively give all our employees and their families the freedom of choice in this upcoming election,” he said. The company has interests in aviation, banking, mining and real estate, and received lucrative contracts under the current and former administrations. A spokesperson for Capital Diamond Star Group said the company – which is led by high-profile businessperson U Ko Kyo Gyi – did not pick a side in yesterday’s vote or offer political contributions. “Though it is possible the boss personally donates,” he added.
Can Pearls be Southern Myanmar's New Big Industry? Myanmar Business Today 7th Nov 2015
Myanmar's nascent pearl industry gained a great deal of regional attention after a private auction before the 2013 Hong Kong International Jewellery Show, in which one pearl managed to sell for more than $30,000 in a bidding war. “We have proven the value of Myanmar pearls and got people’s attention on at that show,” Daw Mya Mya Win, distribution manager of Myanmar Pearl Enterprise told Myanmar Business Today. Since then, pearl production has been on a steady rise, especially in Myanmar's southern Tanintharyi region. Myanmar first participated in international pearl shows ten years ago, but at that time the quality of Myanmar pearls was very low, and did not generate enough revenue at first. A good reputation is hard to forge, and pearls took a back seat to Myanmar's more established gem industries.
SMEs seek US business amid lingering sanctions Myanmar Times 5th Nov 2015
Over 50 percent of Myanmar’s garment exports were shipped to the US until 2003, when trade sanctions crippled the industry, forcing many factories to close. As the US government has eased sanctions since 2012, US companies – including Ball Corp, Coca-Cola and clothing retailer Gap – have tentatively started to reach out to local SMEs once more. Small businesses in Myanmar could develop faster with help from the US, said U Than Htaik Lwin, director of manufacturer Proven Group, during a US-ASEAN Business Council seminar in Yangon on November 1. “We need a more open market,” he said. “We want to export to the US, but first we need to improve a lot of things, such as access to funding and technology.” Companies in the garment sector in particular, want to improve relations with the US, said U Sai Maung from RWT Garment. “We had good relations before sanctions were imposed. If more US companies can engage with our garment sector, it will really help with job creation,” he said.
Real Estate Pro: ‘Overall, the Market Has Cooled Down’ The Irrawaddy 4th Nov 2015
Since earlier this year, Rangoon’s formerly dynamic real estate market has seen a striking cool-down in key locations in the city. While many factors have contributed to this economic malaise, Burma’s Nov. 8 general election, which is hoped to be the country’s freest and fairest in decades, has surely played a part. Because of the uncertainty surrounding the current political climate, many investors, both local and international, are approaching Burma’s real estate market with a wait-and-see attitude. Than Oo, managing director of the Mandine Real Estate Agency and vice chairman of the Myanmar Real Estate Services Association, spoke with The Irrawaddy this week about the future of Burma’s real estate market.
Are Myanmar’s monks hindering democratisation? East Asia Forum 4th Nov 2015
The upcoming general elections in Myanmar raise the question of religion’s role in democratisation processes. Previously Buddhism has been an important force in favour of democracy, but in the 2015 election campaign strong Buddhist forces are supporting the military-aligned Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). This is their democratic right, but it may hinder further political reforms and democratisation in Myanmar. Buddhist nationalism has flourished since political reforms were introduced in 2011. Leading Buddhist monks have formed the Organization for the Protection of Race and Religion, generally known by the abbreviation ‘MaBaTha’, which has the aim of promoting Buddhist interests. MaBaTha monks and nuns have been the driving force behind, among other things, four controversial laws designed to ‘protect race and religion’. The aim of these laws is to protect Buddhist interests, but they are seen by some women’s rights groups and religious minorities as extremely discriminatory.
Rumors and Rumination: The NLD's Possible Presidents The Irrawaddy 4th Nov 2015
Should the National League for Democracy (NLD) win the necessary majority in Sunday’s general election, the next logical question is: who will the party put forward as a presidential candidate? With the party’s ever-popular chairwoman, Aung San Suu Kyi, constitutionally barred from the top post, there is much speculation, but no clear frontrunners for the role. Suu Kyi told supporters at a rally in early October that she knew who the party would put forward, but could not yet disclose it. She followed this remark with a reminder that, whoever the party selects as president, she would ultimately be “the leader of the NLD government.”
Myanmar's radical monks shaping historic election Reuters 3rd Nov 2015
A powerful Buddhist ultranationalist group is helping Myanmar's ruling party win votes in next Sunday's election after the government pushed through laws seen as anti-Muslim, the co-founder of the group told Reuters. Known by its Burmese initials Ma Ba Tha, the Buddhist nationalist group is not running a single candidate in the Nov. 8 election - monks are barred by law from running for office. Yet it has been in the forefront of campaigning and could influence the shape of Myanmar's first popularly elected government in more than half a century. For the first time, a Ma Ba Tha co-founder, a monk named Parmaukkha, disclosed some of the details about closed-door discussions between the group and the government on securing the passage of the bills.
A lone Muslim campaigns in Myanmar's stronghold of radical Buddhism Reuters 3rd Nov 2015
The city of Mandalay in northern Myanmar is a Buddhist religious center so crowded with temples, monasteries and monks that they can sometimes seem innumerable. Much easier to count is the number of Mandalay Muslims standing in Myanmar's historic general election on Nov. 8. That would be one. Khin Maung Thein hails from an obscure little party and runs his campaign from a cluttered, two-story home that doubles as the family printing business. As the sole Muslim candidate in Mandalay, Myanmar's second-largest city and a stronghold for Buddhist extremists, he is treading where giant rivals won't dare. Not even the front-running National League for Democracy (NLD), led by the hugely popular Aung San Suu Kyi, is fielding a Muslim candidate in Mandalay - or, indeed, anywhere else. NLD leaders told Reuters they fear antagonizing a Buddhist ultranationalist group called Ma Ba Tha, which is led by monks and wields huge influence in Buddhist-majority Myanmar. Ma Ba Tha says Islam is eclipsing Buddhism and has called for a boycott of Muslim businesses and a ban on interfaith marriages. Scores of Muslim candidates have been disqualified and voting rights removed from hundreds of thousands of Rohingya Muslims in western Myanmar.
Never Underestimate the Lady Foreign Policy 2nd Nov 2015
I arrived in Burma yesterday, on Nov 1, one week before what promises to be a historic national election. This will be the first time in a generation that the Burmese have had a chance to participate in a competitive nationwide vote, and it’s no exaggeration to say that people here are in the grip of election fever. 6,000 candidates are fighting for 664 seats in the national parliament. Yet it’s a funny thing. 50 million people live in this country, but sometimes it seems as if the story revolves around just one of them: Aung San Suu Kyi, the legendary leader of the pro-democracy opposition. All you have to do is mention “the Lady,” and everyone here knows which one you have in mind.All you have to do is mention “the Lady,” and everyone here knows which one you have in mind.
The acid test of Myanmar's democratic transition Nikkei Asian Review 2nd Nov 2015
Myanmar will go to the polls on Nov. 8 in what will be a landmark election. The main opposition National League for Democracy party will be contesting nationally for the first time in a generation. And if all goes as expected, next year Myanmar will see its first democratic transfer of power since 1960. Many people worry that history may repeat itself. However, the context is very different from 1990, when the NLD won in a landslide but the then-military regime, which had taken power in a coup two years earlier, failed to respect the results. And it is very different from 2010, when the NLD boycotted the elections and the establishment Union Solidarity and Development Party secured its own landslide, partly through manipulation of advance votes.
Customs
Trade steady year-on-year despite flooding: ministry Myanmar Times 12th Nov 2015
Myanmar’s bilateral trade was worth US$16.204 billion over the first six months of fiscal year 2016, placing the country on track to meet its $29.9 billion target by the end of the year. U Win Myint, director of the Trade Promotion Department under the Ministry of Commerce, told The Myanmar Times that exports until end-October were worth $6.848 billion and imports had reached $9.356 billion. This compares with the first six months of last year, when exports were worth $6.723 billion and imports valued at $9.522 billion, he said, with total trade just marginally higher than this year, at $16.247 billion. This year the ministry targets $12 billion of exports and $17.7 billion of imports, said U Win Myint. “After six months we’re already more than half way to meeting our target,” he said. Trade volumes soared this year between April and June, but softened following nationwide flooding that flooded over 1 million acres of farmland, destroyed 30,000 acres of fish and prawn ponds and caused in K26 billion in losses to the fisheries and livestock sector.
Gold price drops Eleven 12th Nov 2015
The gold price has dropped in line with the international market, reports say. It was Ks796,000/tical (US$618/0.58 ounces) in October and now stands at Ks750,000. Meanwhile the international price fell from $1,140/ounce to $1,089. Win Myint, the secretary of the Yangon Region Gold Traders Association, said: “The gold price has been falling since the first week of November. The dealings happen normally.” The price reached Ks800,000/tical while the international price was $1,173/ounce last month. On November 11, a tical of 16-carat gold was worth Ks753,000 and 15 carat cost Ks706,000.
U.S. Resumes Consideration of Adding Burma as GSP Beneficiary STTAS News 11th Nov 2015
The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has reportedly resumed a review initiated in 2013 to determine whether to designate Burma as a beneficiary and/or least-developed beneficiary developing country under the Generalized System of Preferences. Burma’s previous designation as a GSP beneficiary was suspended in July 1989 due to worker rights issues. USTR launched a review of whether to restore Burma’s GSP eligibility in April 2013, but that review was put on hold when GSP itself lapsed. This past summer Congress retroactively reauthorized GSP through Dec. 31, 2017. The decision to resume the USTR review could signal a renewed effort to further open up U.S.-Burma trade after decades of restrictions. In 2012 and 2013 the Obama administration took a number of steps to re-establish trade links with Burma in response to reforms implemented by that country’s ruling military regime. New investments in Burma were authorized and a long-standing U.S. ban on imports from that country was lifted. U.S. officials also raised the prospect of negotiating a bilateral trade and investment framework agreement and discussed potential opportunities under the Expanded Economic Engagement (E3) Initiative, a framework designed to expand trade and investment ties between the U.S. and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.
Yangon Airport a Hotspot for Illegal Trade Myanmar Business Today 11th Nov 2015
Anti-smuggling teams have seized K310 million in smuggled goods through Yangon International Airport and Mandalay International Airport in 1,001 cases from July last year to the present. “We returned some smuggled goods upon payment of a fine and we destroyed some if they were deemed not suitable for public use,” said U Swe Latt Maung, a senior official from the Ministry of Commerce. Mobile team collected K804 million of fines from these smuggled goods, he added. Most cases involve trading goods other than declared or exceeding trade volume limits. The vast majority of cases, 994, came through Yangon.
Burma Vote Boosts Hopes of Lifting Sanctions, With a Big 'If' The Irrawaddy 10th Nov 2015
The United States on Monday welcomed Burma’s election as a victory for the people, and the vote appeared to raise prospects of a further lifting of US sanctions—provided the military accepts the results. While highlighting encouraging signs from Sunday’s poll, Washington remained cautious and said it would watch for the democratic process to move forward before lifting more sanctions, which still target more than 100 individuals and businesses and limit US investment in Burma. Burma’s ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party conceded defeat on Monday in the country’s first free general election in 25 years. The opposition led by democracy figurehead Aung San Suu Kyi appeared on course for a landslide victory that could ensure it forms the next government.
Myanmar-China border trade tops $3 bn Eleven 10th Nov 2015
The border trade between Myanmar and China has topped US$3 billion this year, which is about $200 million more than last year’s value during the same period. The border trade hubs in Muse, Lweje, Chinshwehal and Kanpitetee all process transactions with China, with Muse processing the highest trade volume. Myanmar has signed border trade contracts with India, Thailand, China and Bangladesh. Myanmar exports agricultural products, animal products, mineral extracts, forest products and industrial finished products. The country imports commodities, industrial raw materials and capital goods. Mobile investigation units are also combating illegal smuggling at border gates.
India calls end to barter trade at Myanmar border Myanmar Times 9th Nov 2015
India’s central bank said it had made the decision “in consultation with the Government of India”. The circular replaces rules issued in 1997 allowing border trade to be settled through the barter system. Under the existing system,traders can exchange goods worth less than US$20,000 including pulses and beans, fresh fruits and vegetables, spices, bamboo, forest products (excluding teak), tobacco and other commodities. “Barter trade was initially permitted to facilitate exchange of locally produced commodities along the Indo-Myanmar border,” said the November 5 notice. “As such, these transactions were not captured in the banking system or reflected in the trade statistics. However, over a period of time the trade basket has diversified and adequate banking presence is in place to support normal trade with Myanmar.”
Government Rules on Dollar Transactions ‘Unclear,’ Warns Lawyer The Irrawaddy 8th Nov 2015
The Burmese government’s recent intervention to restrict transactions made in US dollars have left businesses without clarity on when foreign currencies can and cannot be used, according to legal advisory firm VDB Loi. The Central Bank issued new rules in October that canceled the foreign exchange licenses of businesses in a number of sectors, effective from the end of November. The move was seen as an effort to shore up the kyat, which has lost about 20 percent of its value, relative to the dollar, this year. But many businesses saw it as a drastic measure, and a reminder of the ways of Burmese governments of old, which made ill-conceived interventions in Burma’s financial system, often at the expense of the country’s people.
Sanctions Fears Choke Nascent US Trade with Myanmar Myanmar Business Today 8th Nov 2015
Western banks are cutting trade finance in Myanmar after learning that part of the country's main port is controlled by a man blacklisted by Washington, threatening to stop nascent U.S. economic ties with the Southeast Asian nation in their tracks. U.S. shipments to Myanmar have slowed to a crawl in recent months, after several banks including Citigroup Inc, Bank of America, HSBC and PNC Financial curtailed their financial backing of trade with the country, according to sanctions lawyers and other people familiar with the matter. Studying trade documents, Citigroup noticed in June that the Port of Yangon's main terminal is controlled by Steven Law, who is subject to U.S. sanctions because of his alleged ties to Myanmar's military, they said. Citi then alerted other banks, and their compliance officers warned that further financing could violate remaining U.S. sanctions, according to several sources, who asked not to be named because they were not authorized to speak publicly.
Myanmar Bamboo Products Need Improvement - Association Secretary Myanmar Business Today 7th Nov 2015
Local products made from bamboo are not high quality, so local bamboo businessmen must participate in foreign trade fairs to gain knowledge and technology to produce better quality products, said the chairman of the Myanmar Bamboo Producer and Exporter Group. Myanmar bamboo products doesn’t have a large market share in international markets due to low quality and lack of modern techniques. Dr Myint Sein, chairman of Myanmar Bamboo Producer and Exporter Group, said “Our production technology is so outdated and we have no markets where we can export our products. We are going to participate on international trade fairs to improve production technology and find markets for our goods.” The quality of Myanmar bamboo products is much lower than those from Thailand or Vietnam.
White House adviser hints Myanmar vote could lead to US sanctions relief Myanmar Times 6th Nov 2015
Senior national security aide Ben Rhodes, who recently returned from Myanmar, said some electoral problems were likely but a broadly fair vote could provide an economic and diplomatic boon. “Obviously it will impact how we look at sanctions,” Mr Rhodes said, hitting at what he called a misperception that Myanmar had already received the full benefit of better ties with Washington. President Barack Obama’s administration has sought to engage with Myanmar’s rulers, concluding that the longstanding US policy of isolating the military juntas they oversaw had not borne fruit. In 2012 and 2014 Mr Obama visited the country, a major gamble with his reputation should the election prove to be a sham. Mr Rhodes insisted the inclusion of entities and individuals from the country formerly known as Burma on the US “Specially Designated Nationals” sanctions list had a “chilling effect” on investors.
Defense & Security
New Sanctions on KOMID Arms Control 16th Nov 2015
On the heels of elections this week in Burma, the U.S. Treasury issued a press release this morning adding five new North Korean entities to the Specially Designated Nationals list, two of whom are based in Burma. The most prominent individual to make the list is the DPRK Ambassador to Burma, Kim Sok Chol for acting as a facilitator to the Korean Mining Development Trading Corporation (KOMID). The KOMID Representative in Burma, Kim Kwang Hyok, was also added, as were two other individuals with links to KOMID, Hwang Su Man and Ri Chong Chol, and one company based in Egypt.
Energy
Myanmar Oil Wells to Use Graphene Nanochem Product Myanmar Business Today 11th Nov 2015
Malaysia-based Graphene Nanochem will put its latest product, GraphSolve, to the test in the field for a national oil company in Myanmar. It is a paid trial under the group’s deal with Scomi Oiltools and the product is due to be used in three wells in work due to complete in the first quarter of 2016, the company said in a statement. GraphSolve is used to treat drill cuttings waste on-site, thereby ridding the costly need to transport and treat material away from the well. Drilling generates between 300MT and 600MT of cuttings per well. Graphene Nanochem claimed that the latest product can reduce treatment costs by between $70 and $200 per MT of cuttings. The company said the product’s dual chemistry function reduces the oil content in the cuttings to less than 1 percent to meet environmental regulations for on-site disposal while it also speeds up the biodegradation process to within 8-12 weeks.
11 firms bid for LPG contract Eleven 9th Nov 2015
Eleven companies, including Indian, Japanese and Singaporean firms, have submitted bids for the import, storage and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG), according to the Ministry of Energy. The ministry invited domestic and foreign companies to submit tender applications for the wholesale of LPG with the use of materials in the LPG terminal at no.1 oil refinery in Thanlyin, Yangon Region. The ministry reported that among those applying were the Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Japan’s Marubeni Corporation and Tokai Holdings, Singapore’s Puma Energy Group Pte Ltd and BB Energy Pte Ltd and Myanmar Liquefied Petroleum Gas Group Co Ltd.
Financial Services
NLD committed to financial sector reform: party adviser Myanmar Times 17th Nov 2015
U Soe Win of the NLD’s economic committee said the party is now collecting facts and data and discussing its priorities, following its landslide win in the November 8 election. The election result has removed a huge amount of political risk for financial institutions and markets, which “depend on trust and other ephemeral aspects of a country’s political economy”, said Sean Turnell, who is advising the party on economic policy. Firstly the elections themselves are now over, removing an unresolved question and reducing the chance of populist policies being rolled out, he said. Secondly, the comprehensive nature of the NLD victory removes a source of instability. “Many had expected a long period of coalition building and horse-trading as the different parties tried to form a viable government. This is no longer an issue. The NLD will form the government, and will determine economic policy.” A third factor to affect the financial sector is NLD policy itself, he said. “On this front I think the financial sector can take great comfort.”
Myanmar to launch its first capital The Nation 13th Nov 2015
Myanmar is ready to launch its first capital market by next month, but the new bourse will not be fully operational until next year, said Kesara Manchusree, president the Stock Exchange of Thailand. "Myanmar has been preparing to launch its bourse for two or three years and will be the last newcomer in the CLMV," she told reporters at an economic seminar held by the Thammasat Economics Association yesterday. CLMV stands for Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam. "The SET has been in constant contact and discussion with our Myanmar counterpart along with other bourses in the sub-region, including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, on cooperation in terms of training, market operations, investors' knowledge, and how to manage an exchange properly.
Post-election, kyat resumes its weakening trend Myanmar Times 11th Nov 2015
The kyat weakened against the US dollar this week as the greenback strengthened in international markets and business resumed in Myanmar following the November 8 election. Fears the election could spur currency volatility have not materialised, indicating a certain level of confidence in political developments and a likely National League for Democracy win. The US dollar rose in international markets on November 4 in response to US Federal Reserve chair Janet Yellen’s indication of a possible rate hike next month, a Central Bank of Myanmar official said. Rates in the US have remained in the 0-0.25 percent range since the 2008 global financial crisis.
WHA eyes expansion into Asean, Myanmar Myanmar Times 11th Nov 2015
Stock Exchange of Thailand-listed WHA Corporation will set up fully integrated models in its four core businesses to meet expanding investment in ASEAN, though Myanmar investment will depend on the final election result. The company has restructured its operation over the past year to increase its efficiency, compete better internationally and meet rising demand, said Jareeporn Jarukornsakul, chief executive and vice-chairman of Thailand’s largest developer of built-to-suit logistics facilities. It has classified its businesses into four core groups: logistics, industry, utilities and power, and information technology.
Insurance market grows by 40 percent Myanmar Times 10th Nov 2015
In 2013, state-owned Myanmar Insurance relinquished its monopoly to allow a private market to emerge, with the participation of foreign companies, 21 of which have since opened representative offices here. “Foreign companies have been opening one new representative office a month. That shows they trust the Myanmar insurance market,” said deputy finance minister U Maung Maung Thein at the launch of Marsh Insurance’s representative office in Yangon. “Although they are not yet allowed to operate, their presence supports growth in a market in which they will one day be allowed to compete,” said the deputy finance minister.” They are training staff and sharing experience that will build and develop Myanmar’s insurance market.”
US dollar exchange rate unstable after election Eleven 10th Nov 2015
The exchange rate the Myanmar kyat reached Ks 1,290 per US dollar yesterday, the day after the election. Last week, exchange booths set their rates at Ks 1,280 per dollar, while the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) set the price at Ks 1,277. Last month, the CBM revoked foreign currency holding licenses, which seemed to stabilise the exchange rate for a while. In November, the CBM sold US$4.13 million at a rate of Ks 1,284 per dollar, but other exchange counters offered Ks 1,294 per dollar that day.
Marsh Opens Myanmar Rep Office to Tap Insurance Broking Business Myanmar Business Today 10th Nov 2015
American insurance broking and risk management firm Marsh has opened its Yangon representative office in Myanmar. The Marsh Singapore Yangon Representative Office will conduct market research and feasibility studies for insurance broking business in Myanmar, and provide business support and liaison activities on behalf of Marsh Singapore’s businesses, the company said. Marsh Singapore is a division of Marsh, a wholly owned subsidiary of Marsh & McLennan Companies, a Chicago-based professional services firm which offers advice and solutions in the areas of risk, strategy and people. Marsh & McLennan Companies employs 57,000 people worldwide and its annual revenue exceeds $13 billion.
Foreign insurance companies partially granted permission in Thilawa SEZ Eleven 9th Nov 2015
Foreign insurance companies have been granted permission to work in Thilawa Special Economic Zone together with Myanma Insurance. The foreign insurance companies must pay 10 per cent of the quota to Myanma Insurance if a company buys insurance from them. “They will have to pay 10 per cent of the quota to Myanma Insurance. Myanma Insurance will have a 10 per cent of premium fee. If they have to pay compensation for a loss, Myanma Insurance will have to pay their quota. The arrangement has been made by the supervisory committee of Myanma Insurance,” said an official from Myanma Insurance. Myanma Insurance given permits to three Japanese insurance companies – Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co Ltd, Sompo Japan Insurance Inc and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co Ltd – among the foreign insurance companies to work in the Thilawa SEZ. According to the supervisory committee, the companies have been granted one-year temporary licences. The committee will oversee the companies, which will later be granted permanent licences. The insurance companies are required to pay US$30,000 to Myanma Insurance in license fees and a US$10,000 annual fee.
More challenges ahead for state-owned banks Myanmar Times 4th Nov 2015
Challenges for state-owned banks are likely to increase after the election, with their future tied to economic decisions made by the new government. The restructure of Myanmar’s uncompetitive state banks is likely initially to take a back seat to more important reforms such as addressing the illicit jade trade or the issue of political prisoners, said a former general manager of Myanma Economic Bank, the country’s largest state lender. In the meantime, public sector banks will continue to lose out as commercial rivals improve their services and splash out on technology, and foreign banks look to increase their own market share, said an official at the Central Bank of Myanmar. “They need to make a lot of improvements to become competitive,” he said. “Firstly they need to focus on developing human resources and infrastructure, as well as policy reforms. Secondly, they need to be corporatised or reformed through public-private partnerships, which will hopefully happen at some stage under the next government.”
Myanmar: Marsh opens rep office in Yangon Asia Insurance Review 3rd Nov 2015
Marsh, a global leader in insurance broking and risk management, has opened a representative office in Yangon. The Marsh Singapore Yangon Representative Office will conduct market research and feasibility studies for insurance broking business in Myanmar, and provide business support and liaison activities on behalf of Marsh Singapore’s businesses. The office was declared open last week in a ceremony officiated by Dr Maung Maung Thein, Union Deputy Minister, Ministry of Finance and Revenue, and Mr Martin South, Chief Executive Officer, Marsh Asia Pacific, as well as other guests.
BBL looks at potential in Myanmar Bangkok Post 3rd Nov 2015
Bangkok Bank (BBL) intends for its new Myanmar branch to be among its top five lenders outside Thailand by 2020, in line with rapid growth in the neighbouring country. Thailand's second-largest commercial lender by assets upgraded its representative office in Yangon, which has been operating for 20 years, to a branch in June after it won a foreign branch licence from the Myanmar government. It was the only Thai bank to be granted a licence. "Myanmar has high potential, with rapid GDP growth, rich land and natural resources, and a large population officially estimated at 60 million," BBL president Chartsiri Sophonpanich said, adding that the Yangon branch's loan portfolio remained minimal.
Food & Agriculture
Mung bean prices fall due to low foreign demand Eleven 10th Nov 2015
Despite a rise in the prices of beans and peas in local markets this fiscal year, a lack of foreign demand for mung beans has driven prices down. “After reaching a 25-year high of Ks 2.4 million tonnes, the price of mung beans dropped to Ks 200,000 per tonne. During the harvesting season, the price usually starts at around Ks 700,000 or Ks 800,000 per tonne. This year, it went up to Ks 2.4 million per tonne. The main buyers are from India. The beans are also exported to Southeast Asian countries. After mung beans, pigeon peas are the second most popular export item. It seems more beans and peas will be exported in next month or two,” said Dr Myat Soe from the Myanmar Beans and Peas and Sesame Association. Last year, Myanmar exported 1.48 million tonnes of beans and peas and earned US$1.2 billion. As of October this fiscal year, the country has already earned US$783 million from bean and pea exports.
FDA sweeps Yangon markets Eleven 9th Nov 2015
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and its partner organisations are inspecting consumer goods at Mingalar Market and in Hlaingthaya and South Dagon townships, reports say. The FDA in Yangon, the Consumer Affairs Department, Yangon City Development Committee, township public health departments and pharmaceutical, cosmetics and consumer-protection associations reportedly launched field tests on November 3 and 4. Officials warned Mingalar traders not to sell expired and prohibited cosmetics and medicines. They also said they inspected whether bottled water sold at South Dagon and Hlaingthaya townships was FDA-approved.
Onion Buyers Weep over Rising Prices Myanmar Business Today 7th Nov 2015
The price of onions rose by K500 per viss (1.6 kilograms) in October due to increased exporting to regional countries and lack of stock on the local market. Onions retailers discussed the import of onions from other countries in order to control prices. Then they decided not to import onions because onions will be harvested in November, said U Khin Han, vice chairman of onions retailer association from Bayin Naung wholesale center. “This is due to market demand and also the low onion stock on the market. We won’t import onions for this reason. The onions will appear next month,” said U Khin Han. Currently, onions sell for between K1,700 to K1,900 per viss.
Myanmar farmers affected by floods want change in coming elections Channel News Asia 6th Nov 2015
About 972,000 acres of farmland, mostly paddy rice, was destroyed as a result of extreme monsoon weather, affecting 1.6 million people, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). Beyond the physical damages the floods created, they also left a deeper impact on the economy of the towns. In the Irrawaddy division, 86 per cent of the population live in agricultural towns and economic activity revolves largely around farming.
ICT
Myanmar internet usage rises before and after election period Eleven 16th Nov 2015
Internet use in Myanmar rose to 300 per cent of the average rate on November 8, the country’s election day, and is still on the rise, according to the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology. Net users expressed concern about slow connections during the election period, and the ministry responded with preparations to ensure strong connections. Although the connection was slow and sluggish in some areas, the overall connection speed was not notably slow. “We were concerned about the connection before the election period. In 2010, our servers were attacked, and the internet was down. We expected internet use to rise to two or three times the normal rate during the election period. We worked with Myanma Post and Telecommunication (MPT) to prepare for it in advance. The attacks on our servers are normal. We made sure not to lose connection in this period, as it could have led to inaccurate assumptions about the government. Since we removed internet censorship, there has been no blockage. We have allowed VoIP services,” said Deputy Minister Thaung Tin. At the present, MPT offers a backbone bandwidth of about 50GB in total. Ooredoo and Telenor have 30GB and 20GB bandwidths, respectively.
UnionPay International Partners with 2C2P to Tap SE Asian E-commerce Market Myanmar Business Today 11th Nov 2015
E-commerce solutions provider 2C2P said it is partnering UnionPay International (UPI), a subsidiary of China UnionPay, to target the fast growing Southeast Asian e-commerce market. 2C2P’s SEA merchants will now connect with over five billion UnionPay cardholders worldwide, offering UnionPay as an online payment option for shoppers. 2C2P will provide UnionPay Online Payment (UPOP), a service developed by UPI specifically for online payments. With UPOP, UPI cardholders will receive an OTP (one time password) via their mobile devices to complete their transactions. 2C2P Group CEO and Founder Aung Kyaw Moe said, “With more and more people using UnionPay globally, this partnership marks a significant step forward for 2C2P.” Frost & Sullivan estimates the B2C e-commerce compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of key ASEAN markets Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam at 37.6 percent from 2013 to 2018, growing from $7 billion to $34.5 billion.
KDDI: 16 million users for MPT Myanmar Times 9th Nov 2015
The parent to MPT joint venture partner KDDI Summit Global Myanmar said Myanmar’s state operator has boosted its user base by 250 percent since the firms teamed up last July. With a 16-million-strong user base the state-owned incumbent leads Myanmar’s race for mobile users. However, with Telenor’s subscriber tally coming in at just under 12 million late last month, its long-held first-place ranking could be at risk. KDDI said it expects expansion in Myanmar to slow a bit over the next six months. “Average revenue per user is declining slightly [but] it’s not just that,” said KDDI corporate president Takashi Tanaka at a results presentation on November 5. “The investment is becoming costly and ... the competition is intensifying with Telenor and Ooredoo.”
Telenor Myanmar Launches Cloud Storage Service Myanmar Business Today 4th Nov 2015
Telenor Myanmar has launched a cloud-based data storage service based app named Capture App. Capture App is an application that provides online storage to save securely, view and share photos and videos from the devices via Global cloud infrastructure. The app was first launched in Norway, Malaysia and Thailand. ‘Capture’ lets customers back up the pictures and videos by offering secure online storage. On top of 2GB basic free storage, Telenor Myanmar Customers can now save all the memories on their smartphone, tablets, cameras, PC and MAC to the cloud of extra free 20GB storage. Non-Telenor customers can download ‘Capture app’ and get 2GB storage space with respective data charges from other operators. Telenor Myanmar customers, however, will receive an extra 20GB (total 22GB) free storage until the end of 2016.
Laws remain vague as ministry swears off internet shutdown Myanmar Times 4th Nov 2015
Posts and Telecommunications Department (PTD) director U Than Htun Aung said the government has no plans to tell operators to shut down the internet. “Media and civil rights groups are concerned about internet shutdowns, but since the reform process started in Myanmar, we have never issued such instructions. The Union government has no intention to shut down the internet,” he said. In fact, the department has instructed operators to prevent communications breakdowns, he said. “We are working with the telcos to ensure resiliency of their services during the election period.” The last major communications shutdown in Myanmar was during the Saffron Revolution in 2007. While U Than Htun Aung says another shutdown is not on the cards, the government retains the right to suspend telecoms services in certain situations, and has published no detailed criteria on what could bring about such a decision.
Ministry toughens stance on unregistered SIM cards Myanmar Times 2nd Nov 2015
SIM card buyers are supposed to register their purchases but practices used by impromptu sellers and tiny mobile shops on Yangon’s busy thoroughfares remain far from official, with users scooping up SIMs without much, if any, scrutiny. “Vendors sell SIM cards easily on the road. They don’t register them with IDs from the buyers,” said U Thar Htet of Zwenexsys. “This can be dangerous, because if buyers commit a crime, the SIM patentee can be answerable.” MCIT said it will educate people on registration and give unregistered SIM users a window for completing the process. “We will give them a limited time to register their SIMs again, because some users bought them unregistered. Later, we will turn off unregistered SIMs,” said Posts and Telecommunications Department director U Than Htun Aung.
Myanmar startups ready for more disruption after historic polls e27 16th Nov 2015
In Southeast Asia’s final frontier market last week, the people have spoken. Or at least the 30 million, out of a population of 53 million, who were eligible to vote. Aung San Suu Kyi has won Myanmar’s first “free” election in 25 years that was held on November 8. Led by Suu Kyi, the National League for Democracy (NLD) has won enough seats to choose the country’s new President, but they’ll still have to collaborate with the military, who has kept 25 per cent of seats for themselves. Despite the win, the presidential post won’t be taken up by Suu Kyi who is barred from the job — but the Nobel Peace laureate insists she’ll be running the country anyway. Change for Myanmar began to come about in 2011, with Western sanctions easing and foreign telcos Ooreedoo and Telenor arriving on the scene. All of a sudden, a country under military rule for five decades was catapulted into the digital age — with everyone including monks roaming the streets totting smartphones.
Infrastructure
22 bids for traffic contract Eleven 16th Nov 2015
Twenty-two joint-venture companies have submitted tenders to upgrade Yangon’s traffic system, according to the roads and bridges department of the Yangon City Development Committee. A departmental spokesperson said: “We have received 22 tender applications. The list includes foreign companies in joint ventures with domestic firms. The department will scrutinise them within a month.” To solve Yangon’s worsening traffic jams, the YCDC invited bids to automate the road clearance system through a control centre. The budget is about Ks20 billion and will be implemented as quickly as possible in a bid to unblock the congested city. Myanmar’s companies were not in a position to carry it out, the YCDC said. There are 175 traffic posts in Yangon, some of which are not working effectively. Some are left unmanned and others are broken.
$162m infrastructure finance package for newly democratic Myanmar Public Finance Infrastructure 13th Nov 2015
The Asian Development Bank has approved a total of $162m worth of funding for Myanmar this week as the country elected its first democratic government for more than 50 years with a victory for Aung San Suu Kyi’s opposition party. Myanmar has been under military rule since it won its independence from Britain in 1962. However, today it was announced that Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy and long-time democracy campaigner, has won a huge majority in general elections held earlier this week. While the military has thwarted previous election wins by the NLD, and still automatically holds a quarter of the seats in parliament, they have signalled that this time round that the win will be respected and supplant half a century of military dominance with democracy in Myanmar.
Myanmar Railways to Invest in Car Parks Myanmar Business Today 11th Nov 2015
Myanmar Railways (Naypyitaw) said it will call for a tender to build multi-storey car parks and apartments on their acre of land behind Thamada cinema. Every interested person or company can submit a tender application starting from November, MR said in a statement. “We are doing this to reduce traffic congestion. York [Yaw Min Gyi] street is very crowded. That’s why we intend to build a car park. School buses will be able to park and traffic congestion will be somewhat resolved,” said U Ba Myint, general manager of Myanmar Railways (Naypyitaw). When the multi-storey car park is ready, school ferries have to park in that building and if not, they will get punished, MR said. The building is planned to start construction in 2016 after the tender process has finished. The multi-storey car park aims to provide about 350 parking spaces. “In other countries, they build car parks to reduce the traffic congestion. People have to park their cars there and have to walk to avoid traffic congestion. That’s why we will build car parks. No one will be able to park their cars wherever they want. That will reduce traffic congestion,” said U Ba Myint.
Myanmar Elections Call into Question Thailand’s Ambitious Power Development Plans International Rivers 10th Nov 2015
The strong turn-out for Myanmar’s elections on Sunday demonstrates that people in Myanmar are not only eager to participate, but are also demanding their right to participate in decisions which will impact their lives and the future of their country. While communities along the Salween River have long voiced their opposition to the hydropower dams planned on their river, the implications of the changes happening in Myanmar only further calls into question Thailand’s future power development plans. In Thailand’s new Power Development Plan (PDP 2015), which was approved in May 2015, the Thai electricity industry - led by the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) - is increasingly looking to its neighbors in Myanmar and Laos to produce electricity for import into Thailand. In addition to the controversial Xayaburi Dam and other hydropower dams in Laos, EGAT has also taken steps to develop the Hat Gyi and the Mong Ton dams on the Salween River in Myanmar’s Karen and Shan states. Both projects, along with other dams proposed on the Salween River, are within active armed conflict zones not far from Thailand’s western border.
JJ-Pun Launches First Solar CLC in Mandalay Myanmar Business Today 10th Nov 2015
JJ-Pun, in partnership with First Myanmar Investment Co Ltd (FMI) and Philips Lighting, has launched Myanmar’s first Community Light Center in Ngar Zinyine village in Tada-U township in Mandalay. Community Light Centres (CLC) are areas of approximately 1,000 square meters, the size of a small soccer pitch, illuminated using a solar-powered LED lighting. Initiated by Philips Lighting in Africa, the initiative has set up over one hundred such centres throughout the African continent in the last year. JJ-Pun in March tied up with FMI and Philips to implement the project in Myanmar. The company has now finished the installation the CLC at a local playground in Ngar Zinyine. “JJ-Pun, together with our partners has undertaken this initiative with dual aims of improving quality of life for people living off the electricity grid and to demonstrate the possibilities of sustainable development in rural areas of Myanmar,” said Soe Moe Min Oo, general manager for Infrastructure Development at JJ-Pun.
Korea-Myanmar group proposes $620m Yangon expressway Myanmar Times 5th Nov 2015
Capital Diamond Star Group (CDSG) hopes to work with South Korea’s Lotte E&C and Halla Corporation to build the road, which would link Yangon to a new international airport at Hanthawaddy. The companies have submitted a joint proposal to the Ministry of Construction, and announced the project via the website of the President’s Office. CDSG, which built flyovers at Shwegonedaing and Myaynigone junctions, and is working on another at Kokkine junction on Kabar Aye Pagoda Road, did not respond to requests for comment. If approved, the 20.5-kilometre, four-lane Yangon Urban Expressway Development Project would run from Bogyoke Aung San Road and Yay Kyaw junction in downtown Yangon, to Mingalardon Garden to the north of the city.
Manufacturing
Rubber market to be built in Mawlamyine Myanmar Times 11th Nov 2015
Mon State is the country’s top rubber producer and the commodity is considered a “promising export” in Myanmar’s National Export Strategy (NES). However, local planters have struggled to sell internationally due to issues with quality and falling global prices. The NES highlights the need for a central rubber market, said U Win Myint, director of the Department of Export Promotion under the Ministry of Commerce. It is set to be built in a compound on Ministry of Commerce-owned land in Mawlamyine, and will be jointly managed by the Ministry of Commerce, the Ministry of Agriculture and Irrigation, and the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association (MRPPA).
|
