Economy of non-Burman groups in several States of Burma

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Title: Market Analysis Unit: Market Snapshot - Southeast Myanmar (Dec 18, 2023)
Description: "This rapid Market Snapshot is a suppliment to the MAU Market Price Report in Southeast Myanmar and provides further township-level data on market functionality, activity, access, and supply. Data were collected through observation and KIIs with retailers during Dec. 5-8, 2023. Reports available at www.themimu.info/market-analysis-unit. KEY FINDINGS Town markets remained partly-functional, but challenges were growing and safety issues were paramount; Pekon and Kawkareik had few remaining sellers, and availability of many goods was limited; Demoso, Kawkareik, and Pekon saw market closures at times but nonetheless continued to function; Shipping costs were up 50-200% in Pekon, and leadtimes were doubling across markets; Supply limits were most notable for essential foods like rice and cooking oil but also for some NFIs; Vegetable prices were up 8-67% across markets, while essential foods were up a relatively modest 2-8%; Retailers worried most about safety in/near markets and damage to market infrastructure, although transportation, supply, and demand were also common concerns Market Summaries Demoso Village Market (Cherry Kone) - Village markets in Demoso Township continued to supply goods from neighboring townships to area villages. Many products remained available, although retail and customer activity was greatly reduced. Larger village markets in the area (e.g., Chery Kone, Be Kin, Se Bu) continued to serve area villages and import goods from Pinlaung Township; however, frequent road closures made restocking unpredictable, and lead-times increased from one day to five days. Retailers reported facing many challenges and continued to worry most about poor safety and security in the township. Hsiseng Town Market - Hsihseng market remained operational, and goods were relatively well-stocked. The town market remained operational with no known damage or forced-closures in recent weeks, and retailers described the area in/around the market as safe. Retailer and customer activity was slightly reduced, but the market continued to do commerce with nearby villages and townships (lead-times increased from one half-day to one day). Most foods and NFIs remained available, although retailers reported limited supply of clothing, and NFI prices were up 4-14% in the past month. Although goods remained available, retailers worried about the security environment and their ability to continue stocking items. Kawkareik Town Market - Kawkareik market saw periodic market closures and dwindling supply amid increased conflict events in the area. Observers reported unspecified damage to the market which had closed at times in recent days due to security incidents. Retailer activity and customer traffic was severly reduced as many buyers and sellers left town (and visiting traders and customers from neighboring villages and townships had dwindled). Food items were in limited supply, and prices were rising in the past month. Cooking oil prices were up 8%, vegetables were up 8-67%, and prices for hygiene products were up 6-9%. Pekon Town Market - Pekon market faced occasional closures, and security remained a major concern. Although there was no reported damage at Pekon market, the market operated only in the mornings and had closed periodically in recent days. During closures, some retailers or traders operated from nearby markets in Pinlaung Township. Although shipping from Pinlaung Township remained possible at times, transportation costs were up 50-200%. Supply of essential foods and NFIs were limited, including rice and clothing. Essential food prices were up a modest 3-6% in the past month, but vegetable prices rose 9-40%, and NFI prices were up 5-19%. Retailers worried about transportation and supply, but they worried most about local security..."
Source/publisher: Myanmar Information Management Unit (Myanmar) via "Reliefweb" (New York)
Date of publication: 2023-12-19
Date of entry/update: 2023-12-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar sets investment priorities for all states, regions in the country
Sub-title: The Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations this month announced tax exemptions for investments in selected sectors in all 14 states and regions in Myanmar and the Nay Pyi Taw Union Territory.
Description: "The key investment sectors in Myanmar’s states and regions are mainly agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure. Now, the government is expanding the areas of investment for businesses to five priority sectors and streamlining the process in the states and regions. The top five priority investment sectors in Chin State are hotels and tourism, power, agriculture and its related services, livestock production and breeding, and urban development and industrial zone. Any investment in these sectors qualifies for seven years of tax exemption. “Some projects which generate above 30 MW of electricity are progressing with negotiations ongoing between the Ministry of Electricity and Energy and investors,’’ U Soe Htet, the Minister for Chin State Development Affairs, Electricity and Industry, told The Myanmar Times. Chin State has only two investment projects and ranks lowest where investment in this country is concerned. The top five priority investment sectors in Kayah State are hotels and tourism, agriculture and its related services, manufacturing, power, and mining..."
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Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-01-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Power and Money: Economics and Conflict in Burma
Description: "...The regime?s persistent military targeting of ethnic peoples has significantly compounded the negative effects of economic mismanagement. Although the ethnic conflict in Burma is widely considered a human rights problem, many of the regime?s tactics are economic; in an attempt to starve them into submission, ethnic groups are routinely denied the ability to secure an income sufficient for survival... Continued conflict and human rights abuses have severely weakened the economy, to the detriment of both ethnic peoples and the general population, and made economic reform a practical impossibility in Burma. Although gross human rights violations and cultural destruction seem not to bother Burma?s government, perhaps the impossibility of sustaining the country on a continually deteriorating economic base will eventually force the ruling power to make concessions and respect the rights of Burma?s ethnic nationalities."
Creator/author: Laura Frankel
Source/publisher: "Cultural Survival Quarterly" Issue 24.3
Date of publication: 2000-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2010-08-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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Title: A Village on Fire: the Destruction of Rural Life in Southeastern Burma
Description: "...Under military control, rural Burma?s subsistence farming village is losing its viability as the basic unit of society. Internally displaced people are usually thought to have fled military battles in and around their villages, but this paradigm doesn?t apply to Burma. In the thousands of interviews conducted by the Karen Human Rights Group with villagers who have fled their homes, approximately 95 percent say they have not fled military battles, but rather the systematic destruction of their ability to survive, caused by demands and retaliations inflicted on them by the SPDC military. Where there is fighting, it is fluid and sporadic, and most villagers can avoid it by hiding for short periods in the forest. Once the SPDC occupies the area around their village, however, the suffering is inescapable. Villages, rooted to the land, are defenseless and vulnerable, and villages can be burned -- destroying rural life in southeastern Burma. "
Creator/author: Kevin Heppner
Source/publisher: "Cultural Survival Quarterly" Issue 24.3
Date of publication: 2000-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2003-06-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language: English
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