Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general

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Title: Japan, U.S., India, Australia call for return of democracy in Myanmar
Description: "Foreign ministers of the so-called Quad grouping of countries seen as a forum to stand up to China in Asia agreed that democracy must be restored quickly in Myanmar and to strongly oppose attempts to upset the status quo by force, Japan’s foreign minister said on Thursday. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his counterparts from India, Japan and Australia met virtually for the first time under the Biden administration and discussed Myanmar, COVID-19, climate, and Indo-Pacific territorial and navigation issues, the State Department said in a statement. “We’ve all agreed on the need to swiftly restore the democratic system (in Myanmar),” and to strongly oppose all unilateral attempts to change the status quo by force, Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi told reporters.“I stressed that, with challenges to existing international order continuing in various fields, the role we, the countries that share basic values and are deeply committed to fortifying free and open international order based on the rule of law, play is only getting bigger,” Motegi said. The State Department said Blinken and his counterparts discussed counterterrorism, countering disinformation, maritime security and “the urgent need to restore the democratically elected government in Burma.” They also addressed the “the priority of strengthening democratic resilience in the broader region,” it said..."
Source/publisher: "Reuters" (UK)
Date of publication: 2021-02-18
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-19
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Title: Is Your Business Funding Myanmar Military Abuses?
Sub-title: Even Before Coup, Companies Should Have Cut Ties to Armed Forces
Description: "The military coup in Myanmar this week should sound alarm bells in corporate boardrooms around the world. Since Myanmar’s transition from decades of military dictatorship to a civilian government began in 2011, transnational businesses have cautiously reentered the country. But the coup highlights the question company directors should already have been asking: “Is our company directly or indirectly funding the Myanmar military?” The human rights, reputational, and legal risks of continuing to do business with Myanmar’s military are immense. The Tatmadaw, as it is known, has been accused of genocide and crimes against humanity against Rohingya Muslims, and war crimes against other ethnic minorities. And now it has overthrown a civilian government that won a massive re- election, with over 80 percent of the vote, in November 2020. Companies doing business in Myanmar have long had access to credible information about the military’s grave abuses and corruption. A 2019 United Nations report found that companies with commercial ties to the Myanmar’s military and its conglomerates, Myanmar Economic Holdings Limited (MEHL) and Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC), “are contributing to supporting the Tatmadaw’s financial capacity.” The report said these companies are at “high risk of contributing to or being linked to, violations of human rights law and international humanitarian law.” The UN team’s recommendation was clear: companies operating or investing in Myanmar should not do business with “the security forces of Myanmar, in particular the Tatmadaw, or any enterprise owned or controlled by them, including subsidiaries, or their individual members.”..."
Source/publisher: "Human Rights Watch" (USA)
Date of publication: 2021-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-05
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Title: Security Council fails to agree statement condemning Myanmar coup
Sub-title: Diplomats say discussions will continue with China and Russia asking for ‘more time’
Description: "The UN Security Council has failed to agree on a joint statement condemning Monday’s coup in Myanmar, after a two hour long emergency meeting failed to secure the support of China, a key Myanmar ally and a veto-holding permanent member of the council. The meeting, which was held virtually, followed the military’s detention of Aung San Suu Kyi and other top politicians in a series of early morning raids on Monday, after which armed forces chief Min Aung Hlaing assumed power. The 15-member council was considering a UK-drafted statement that the United Nations’ envoy on Myanmar told diplomats should “collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy” in the country. “I strongly condemn the recent steps taken by the military and urge all of you to collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy in Myanmar,” Christine Schraner Burgener told the council, according to her prepared remarks. The military has said its coup was constitutional and promised to hold new elections, claiming last November’s poll was fraudulent without evidence. A state of emergency will remain in force for one year..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of publication: 2021-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-03
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Title: Security Council unity ‘crucial’ to support democracy in Myanmar
Sub-title: The UN Special Envoy on Myanmar appealed on Tuesday for the Security Council to unite in support of democracy in the country in the wake of the recent power grab by the military and the declaration of a one-year state of emergency.
Description: "Christine Schraner Burgener addressed ambassadors during a closed meeting held the day after Myanmar’s military seized power and detained top political leaders and activists, including State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi and President Win Myint. “More than ever, this Council’s unity is crucial”, she said, according to remarks shared afterwards. “I strongly condemn the recent steps taken by the military and urge all of you to collectively send a clear signal in support of democracy in Myanmar.” ‘Surprising and shocking’ The crisis stems from elections held in November, marking the second democratic elections in Myanmar since the end of military rule a decade ago. Ms. Suu Kyi’s party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), scored a landslide victory. The military and some political parties claimed the vote was fraudulent. Myanmar’s Supreme Court was scheduled to pronounce this month on its jurisdiction over complaints of alleged election-related violations. “We had earlier encouraged all electoral disputes should be resolved through established legal mechanisms”, Ms. Schraner Burgener said. “There appeared to be a commitment on the part of the military to safeguard the rule of law. So, the turn of events was surprising and shocking.” Release leaders The UN envoy underlined the NLD’s victory at the polls. The party won more than 82 per cent of seats, which “provided a strong renewed mandate to the NLD, reflecting the clear will of the people of Myanmar to continue on the hard-won path of democratic reform.” She called for the state of emergency to be repealed and for the detained leaders to be released, while the post-electoral litigation process should resume “with full commitment from both sides”. The military’s proposal to hold elections again should be discouraged, she added. “It is important that we join our efforts in helping ensure the military respects the will of the people of Myanmar and adheres to democratic norms.” Fears of backsliding Following reports of violence, including against journalists, Ms. Schraner Burgener also urged the Council to ensure the protection of civilians and human rights..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: UN News
Date of publication: 2021-02-02
Date of entry/update: 2021-02-03
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Title: Six Charts on Myanmar's Economy in the Time of COVID-19
Sub-title: A frontier economy, Myanmar experienced rapid growth as it opened up in the 2000s, with GDP growth rates among the highest in Asia. However, growth had already been slowing when the coronavirus shock hit in early 2020.
Description: "Although officially recorded cases of COVID-19 in Myanmar remain low, the social and economic effects could be significant, given the externally IMF emergency financing of $356.5 million, along with external financing, the Debt Service Suspension Initiative, and continued capacity development, are alleviating the impact of COVID-19, while establishing the roots for more sustained and inclusive growth. The government’s COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan aims at minimizing the pandemic’s impact by stimulating the economy and boosting spending on health and social safety nets. Six charts tell the story of Myanmar’s economy during the early months of the COVID-19 crisis:oriented economy, uneven social safety nets, and the fragile healthcare system. Compared to other countries in the region, Myanmar’s COVID-19 outbreak appears to be limited. The country reports about 300 confirmed cases despite its large population of 54 million, possibly reflecting limited testing capacity. The authorities implemented strict containment measures well before the case count picked up, including travel restrictions, closure of land borders, and bans on mass public gatherings, helping to flatten the curve of infections. The COVID-19 shock has affected the economy’s key growth engines. Myanmar has seen a sharp decline in exports, remittances, and tourist arrivals. At the same time, domestic economic activity has been constrained by measures taken to control the spread of the virus. Such disruptions have affected households and businesses, including in agriculture, which comprises a fifth of the economy and over half of employment. Furthermore, nearly four out of five workers in Myanmar are employed in the informal sector, with limited access to social safety nets. There is high uncertainty around growth in the short term, also reflecting the intensity and duration of containment measures, and the evolution of external conditions..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "International Monetary Fund" (IMF) (Washington, D.C)
Date of publication: 2020-07-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-07-09
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Title: IMF approves $356 million support for Myanmar
Sub-title: The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has approved a total of $356.5 million support for Myanmar as the country suffers from an ailing economy despite its low virus transmission cases.
Description: "In a statement released on its website on Saturday, June 27, the IMF’s executive board said that it approved a disbursement of $118.8 million under the Rapid Credit Facility (RCF) and a purchase of $237.7 million under the Rapid Financing Instrument (RFI) for Myanmar. “This will help meet the urgent balance-of-payments and fiscal needs arising from the COVID-19 (coronavirus disease-2019) pandemic, support the government’s plans to boost spending especially on health and social safety nets,” the IMF said. Myanmar has so far recorded 293 confirmed cases, of which 215 have recovered while six others died. While the country was one of the countries in the Southeast Asian region with the lowest number of cases, its economy was severely affected by slow domestic demand that has disrupted households and businesses, including the agriculture sector which comprises a fifth of its economy and over half of employment. “Domestic demand has weakened as the necessary measures to control a domestic outbreak have affected economic activities. As revenues fall and expenditures rise, the fiscal deficit is increasing, putting pressure on funding and public debt,” the IMF said. “The external position is deteriorating due to the collapse in global demand for garments and gas, weak tourism and remittance inflows and lower foreign direct investment,” it added..."
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Source/publisher: "ASEAN Economist"
Date of publication: 2020-06-27
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-27
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Title: Myanmar's border trade reaches over 7.8 bln USD in first 9 months of FY 2019-20
Description: "Myanmar's trade with foreign countries through border gates reached over 7.8 billion U.S. dollars as of June 12 in present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday. During the period, the country's export via border gates amounted to 5.42 billion U.S. dollars while its import shared 2.44 billion U.S. dollars. This fiscal year's border trade increased by over 236 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last fiscal year 2018-2019 when it amounted to 7.63 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry's figures said. Muse topped the list of border checkpoints with the most trade value of 3.44 billion U.S. dollars, followed by Heekhee with 1.43 billion U.S. dollars. The country conducts border trade with neighboring China through Muse, Lweje, Kanpikete, Chinashwehaw and kengtung with Thailand via Tachilek, Myawady, Kawthoung, Myeik, Hteekhee, Mawtuang and Maese gates, with Bangladesh via Sittwe and Maungtaw and with India through Tamu and Reed border gates, respectively..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-06-24
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-24
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Title: Investor interest in Myanmar garment sector still strong despite lower exports
Sub-title: Foreign investor interest in the garment manufacturing sector is still strong despite a fall in the volume of garment exports in fiscal 2019-20, according to the government.
Description: "Of the 178 foreign enterprises endorsed by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) and permitted to invest in Myanmar between October 1 and May 31, more than three quarters channeled capital into the manufacturing sector, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). The data showed that the new investors include garment manufacturers. The MIC will prioritise investments in garment manufacturing going forward as these are labour intensive industries likely to create a large number of jobs, Director General of DICA U Thant Sin Lwin told state media. Manufacturers that are able to produce face masks and other personal protective equipment related to COVID-19 will also be given priority. Enquiries from investors are still flowing in even though garment exports fell to just US$2.7 billion between October 1, 2019 and May 31, representing a $24 million decline from the same period a year before due to order cancellations from the EU as a result of COVID-19, according to U Khin Maung Lwin, assistant secretary of the Ministry of Commerce. This has also led to a rising number of disputes between employers and their employees as factories are forced to lay off or close. The industry hires up to 700,000 predominantly female workers across 600 factories, according to data provided by the EU. Disruptions to the Myanmar garment sector first started in February, when raw material imports from China became sporadic as a result of COVID-19 closures and lockdowns. Things got worse after the coronavirus was declared a global pandemic by the World Health Organisation on March 11, with order delays and cancellations from major export countries like the EU becoming more frequent..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-06-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-06-14
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Title: Power sector tops Myanmar's foreign investment in 7 months of FY 2019-20
Description: "The power sector topped Myanmar's foreign direct investment (FDI) with over 1 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital from six permitted foreign enterprises in first seven months of current fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, government figures showed Monday. As of April 30 of present FY, Myanmar attracted a total of over 3.35 billion U.S. dollars' foreign investment, according to figures released by Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Monday. According to DICA's figures, the real estate sector stood second with 895 million U.S. dollars, followed by the manufacturing sector with 544 million U.S. dollars and others. From FY 1988-1989 to April 30 of FY 2019-2020, which started in October, 26.07 percent of foreign investment flowed into the country's power sector with capital of over 22.2 billion U.S. dollars, the DICA's figures said. In last FY 2018-2019, total annual FDI in the country amounted over 4.15 billion U.S. dollars..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-05-25
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Why the US is fighting in Burma & India (World War 2 - Restored - 1945)
Description: "This film report, "Why We're Here," was delivered by General Daniel Sultan, who succeeded General Stilwell as Allied commander of Burma/India operations. When surveyed, 50% of US forces had responded that they didn't know why they were in seemingly obscure South East Asia, "fighting to save the Chinese and the British Empire," instead of in Europe or the highly publicized island campaigns in the South Pacific. In response, the General shows the vital strategic importance of keeping China in the war and the essential role (and sacrifices) of British and Chinese forces, all done through engaging film clips and maps. The epic construction and importance of the new Stilwell Road and petroleum pipeline to China are also shown in detail, something all US troops could be proud of. Finally, the essential role played by logistical support units and hospital personnel in making it all happen is emphasized..."
Source/publisher: ZenosWarbirds
Date of publication: 2013-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2020-05-25
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Title: China's Belt and Road power grids keep security critics awake
Sub-title: As Xi connects the region, Philippines weighs 'shutdown' risk
Description: "Philippine Senator Sherwin Gatchalian has not been sleeping well. "It is very difficult for us to sleep every night without lingering fears," he said in early February, as he presided over an investigation into potential security risks stemming from Chinese part-ownership of his country's power grid operator. The Philippines is far from the only country running on China-backed electricity. As a complement to President Xi Jinping's signature Belt and Road infrastructure initiative, Beijing is pushing what it calls Global Energy Interconnection -- a vision of a multi-trillion-dollar worldwide electricity network. China already has a number of power lines connected to other countries, including Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam, while lines into Thailand, Pakistan and Bangladesh are under consideration. For emerging economies hampered by chronic electricity shortages, such investments may be a blessing. Critics, however, worry that China's expanding presence in regional power grids could leave partner countries vulnerable. Xi himself proposed Global Energy Interconnection in 2015 at the United Nations Sustainable Development Summit, as a way to meet the world's demand for clean power. Like the Belt and Road itself, China frames the concept as beneficial for everyone. "It increases mutual trust in politics and creates a new pattern of energy security featuring cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results," says the website of the Global Energy Interconnection Development and Cooperation Organization, or GEIDCO, the body leading the charge..."
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Source/publisher: "Nikkei Asian Review" (Japan)
Date of publication: 2020-03-03
Date of entry/update: 2020-03-03
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Title: Power sector attracts over 1 bln USD foreign investment in Myanmar in 4 months
Description: "Power sector attracted over 1 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital from six permitted foreign enterprises in first four months of current fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures released by Myanmar's Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). As of Jan. 31, Myanmar's power sector topped the list with most investment capital, followed by real estate and manufacturing sectors. From FY 1988-1989 to Jan. 31 of FY 2019-2020, 26.4 percent of foreign investment flowed into the country's power sector with capital of over 22.2 billion U.S. dollars, the DICA's figures said. Meanwhile, Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) allowed 106 enterprises with a total of 2.08 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital as of Jan. 31 of present FY 2019-2020..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-02-24
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Mekong nations, China push for more trade, investment, connectivity
Description: "The six Mekong-Lancang Cooperation (MLC) countries agreed on the need to elevate their cooperation from rapid-expansion to a comprehensive stage as their foreign ministers met in Vientiane on Thursday. The ministers of the MLC member countries - China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam – reached the agreement at their fifth meeting, Chinese State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi told a press conference shortly after the meeting. Participants welcomed the recommendation by the Global Centre for Mekong Study that the MLC countries jointly create the Mekong-Lancang Economic Development Belt. The ministers reaffirmed the need to further enhance regional connectivity by jointly promoting the MLC Economic Development Belt and to explore the possibility of synergising the MLC Plan of Action on Connectivity with global transport infrastructure – the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), the Master Plan on Asean Connectivity (MPAC) 2025, and the Asean-China New Western Land-Sea Corridor..."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-02-23
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-23
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Title: Myanmar opening more doors to foreign investments in Yangon region
Description: "Myanmar's Yangon Region Investment Committee (YRIC) recently approved 16 foreign investment businesses for the region, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Sunday (Feb 23). A total of US$28.507mil of foreign investments from China, Seychelles and Estonia as well as 3 billion Kyats (US2mil) from one local enterprise engaged the region's manufacturing sector and other services, creating over 8,900 job opportunities for local citizens. Yangon region absorbs 60% of country's investment from both home and abroad, followed by Mandalay region with % and the rest flows into other regions and states. Myanmar attracted over US$20.8bil foreign investments as of Jan 31, the first four months of the current fiscal year 2019-2020, according to the DICA's figures. The new Myanmar Companies Law which started to enforce on Aug. 1, 2018 allows foreign investors to take up 35 percent in local companies..."
Source/publisher: "The Star Online" (Selangor)
Date of publication: 2020-02-23
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-23
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Title: Myanmar's sea trade registers over US$10bil in 5 months
Description: " Myanmar's trade through sea routes registered over US$10.4bil in the first five months of the present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020, which started in October, according to figures released by the Commerce Ministry on Saturday (Feb 22). The country fetched over US$4.14bil from maritime export while its import shared over US$6.33bil as of Feb 14 this FY. This fiscal year's sea trade saw a significant increase by over US$1.58bil, compared to the same period of the last fiscal year 2018-2019, the ministry's figures showed. Approximately 80% of Myanmar's foreign trade is done through sea-borne trade and its border trade is conducted with neighbouring countries -- China, Thailand, India and Bangladesh, respectively. From Oc. 1, 2019 to Feb. 14 of this FY, the country's foreign trade totalled over US$14.5bil with over US$6.76bil in export and US7.77bil in import..."
Source/publisher: "The Star Online" (Selangor)
Date of publication: 2020-02-22
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-23
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Title: Myanmar exports over 32,000 tons of rice in first week of Feb
Description: "Myanmar exported about 12,000 tons of rice to Asia, about 6,000 tons of rice to European Union (EU) and over 14,000 tons of rice to Africa between February 2 and 8, according to the Ministry of Commerce. It exported over 32,000 tons of rice worth US$10.021 million through maritime trade. It is less than over 1,500 tons of rice compared with last week's export. Myanmar exported about 1,200 tons of broken rice to Asia, over 9,100 tons of broken rice to the EU, about 3,200 tons of broken rice to Africa, 250 tons of broken rice to the United Arab Emirates and over 300 tons of Gibraltar in that period. It is more than 2,800 tons of broken rice compared with last week's export. Myanmar exported about 3,000 tons of rice worth US$0.821 million through border trade centers in Myanmar-China border from February 1 to 7. About 2,300 tons of rice is exported through Muse 105-mile trade center, about 270 tons of rice through Chinshwehaw border trade center and about 370 tons of rice through Lweje border trade center. It is more than 400 tons of rice compared with last week's export...."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-02-21
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-22
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Title: Myanmar approves 12 local and foreign investment enterprises
Description: "Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved 12 investment enterprises from home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) late Friday. The enterprises, which will create over 6,600 job opportunities for Myanmar citizens, were permitted at the commission's recent meeting. With investment capital of 501.9 million U.S. dollars and 73.4 billion kyats (48.9 million U.S. dollars), the permitted enterprises are engaged in the country's manufacturing, other services sectors and hotel sectors, respectively. As of Dec. 31, 2019, Singapore, China and Thailand were the leading investors in Myanmar. Meanwhile, oil and gas, power and manufacturing sectors were the top three sectors in the list with most foreign investments. From FY 1988-89 to Dec. 31 of FY 2019-20, the foreign investments in 1,909 permitted projects have reached over 83 billion U.S. dollars in the country..."
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Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-02-15
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-15
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Title: Myanmar can identify coronavirus in its own lab soon: Health Minister
Description: "Myanmar can identify 2019 novel coronavirus in its own lab from February 21, said Dr Pike Htwe, Union Minister for Health and Sports in a parliament session held on February 11. He replied to a question raised by MP Dr Sein Mya Aye of Dala Constituency whether the ministry has plans to prevent the outbreak of 2019 novel coronavirus and to have fewer deaths if the infectious disease is reached to Myanmar. “The 2019 novel coronavirus can identify in Myanmar soon. We can test about 100 times in a reference lab in Thailand and 250 times in a reference lab in United States. Chief of the Asia Pacific will come to provide training in related with the coronavirus test,” he said. Although Myanmar can identify the virus starting from February 21, it is not late as there are 15 labs including labs in China, Japan, Germany, Thailand, Singapore, India, France and Russia which can identify the virus, he added..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-02-12
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar earns over 907 mln USD from mineral export in 4 months
Description: "Myanmar earned over 907 million U.S. dollars from mineral export in the first four months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures of the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday. This figure increased by 579 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it fetched over 328 million U.S. dollars. During the period, the mineral sector ranked the third place with most export value, following the manufacturing and agriculture sectors among other export. Meanwhile, the country's export value totaled over 6.1 billion U.S. dollars from Oct. 1, 2019 to Jan. 31, the ministry's figures said. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-02-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
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Title: Myanmar takes steps to improve trade strategies
Description: "Myanmar will take measures to ensure that overseas demand for locally made goods remains elevated even as cheaper imports from the region are expected to rise now that the country will participate further in the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA). This should also keep the country’s trade deficit, which was down to US$627 million in fiscal 2019-20 from US$5.2 billion in fiscal 2016-17, stable. Under AFTA, Myanmar is expected to substantially lower the import duties for a list of goods to as little as zero and no more than 5 percent. “Custom duties will be nearly zero due to AFTA and ASEAN countries are already taking advantage of the opportunity to export more goods to Myanmar. We have in place the Import Protection Law to ensure local manufacturers are not threatened,” said U Aung Htoo, deputy commerce minister. The Import Protection Law gives Myanmar the right to raise duties for a period of three years on imported goods that severely affect or threaten local manufacturer. The law also covers trade under AFTA, the Myanmar Times understands. Some traders have voiced their approval over the changing trade environment. Daw Yin Yin Moe, CEO of Hla Yin Moe, a textile and garment company, said that over the past five years her company was able to import industrial apparatus and machineries..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-02-13
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
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Title: Myanmar tourism increases a massive 40% in 2019
Description: "Myanmar has ranked highest among the world’s 20 quickest-growing travel destinations over the past 12 months. The report from the United Nations World Tourism Organisation. Vietnam and The Philippines are also regional winners over the past year that made it into the top 10 best performing emerging travel destinations. Myanmar Tourism Marketing, part of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, reports that the country enjoyed a year-on-year increase of 40.2% in tourism. Puerto Rico had a 31.2% rise and Iran at 27.9%. Also in the top 10 were Vietnam and The Philippines, ranked as the 7th and 8th top performing countries for 2019. May Myat Mon Win, Myanmar’s Tourism Marketing chairperson says they are trying to maintain the growth. “We need to keep this momentum going for many more years,”. The Burmese government has introduced new regulations to facilitate easier access for tourists as a next step to open Myanmar up to the world. Myanmar grants residents of Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Macau and some Southeast Asian countries visa-free entry. People from India, the Chinese mainland, Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Russia, Spain and Switzerland are granted visas on arrival. Citizens of more than 100 countries are also eligible for e-visas via this link and can expect approval within three days. Myanmar Tourism Marketing are launching their annual “Green Season” campaign for May through September with the support of hotels, airlines and tour operators. “Green Season” refers to the region’s annual wet season monsoon..."
Source/publisher: "The Thaiger" (Thailand), "The Nation" ( Thailand)
Date of publication: 2020-02-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-13
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Title: Burma in the Balance: The Geopolitics of Gas
Description: "The energy security concerns of Thailand, India and China greatly determine their relations with Myanmar. In principle, India and China have pledged to cooperate in the field of energy security in order to avoid costly rivalries. In practice, however, commentators expect that the two oilimporting giants will find it more or less impossible to avoid such rivalries. In relation to Myanmar, this seems difficult indeed. The immediate issue is competition between India and China over building a pipeline to transport natural gas from Shwe, a gas field off the coast of Myanmar’s Arakan state. In March 2007, it became clear that China will further consolidate its ties with Myanmar by building a gas pipeline from the Burmese coast to Kunming, the capital of China’s Yunnan province. India’s pipeline plans, negotiated for several years, were finally rejected by the Burmese regime. A South Korean offer to construct a liquefied natural gas (LNG) facility in Myanmar was also turned down. The Chinese plans include an oil pipeline as well, probably running parallel to the gas pipeline and intended to carry Persian Gulf crude oil shipped by tanker to a connecting Burmese port facility. This makes sense considering the oft-cited Chinese argument that an oil pipeline through Myanmar will enhance China’s energy security by serving as an alternative oil supply route bypassing the Strait of Malacca, a waterway of crucial importance for the provision of oil and other necessities to China, Taiwan, South Korea and Japan..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Strategic Analysis"
Date of publication: 2007-07-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
Size: 133.07 KB (20 pages)
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Title: Foreign Policy and Political Changes in Post-junta Myanmar
Description: "Because of its geostrategic position and whatever the system of government in place, Myanmar must cope with a series of key security challenges.1 The country is sandwiched between two emerging giants with global ambitions, China and India. It boasts a 2,000km-long coastline opened to the Indian Ocean, through which a large part of the world’s seaborne commerce transit. It offers a gateway to, and from, continental Southeast Asia. In the twenty-first century, this peculiar geographical situation may present considerable opportunities for regional growth and future development in a country long kept away from global flows and Asia’s economic boom.2 But it can also contribute to increased concerns among Burmese ruling elites, starting with the armed forces (or Tatmadaw), over the potential sway neighbouring states, global powers and international institutions may seek to gain in a region known for its abundance of underexploited natural resources.3 In March 2011, the junta formed after the last coup d’état staged by the Tatmadaw in 1988 was disbanded. A startling transition to a semi-civilian administration followed.4 The five-year presidency of ex-general Thein Sein (2011–2016) marked a first phase in this post-junta transitional moment. Under the impetus of a handful of retired high-ranking military officers, Myanmar started to liberalise its polity, returned to a parliamentary form of elected government, allowed its pro-democracy opposition forces to join the political game, and gradually re-engaged with the world, particularly the West. After years of diplomatic isolation and international condemnations led by the United States and the European Union, most sanctions imposed against the country since the 1990s were suspended, then lifted, between 2012 and 2016. Even more, the landslide victory of Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) in the legislative polls held in November 2015 and the subsequent formation of an NLD government further rekindled hopes for a gradual, yet palpable, democratisation..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Renaud Egreteau
Date of publication: 2017-11-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Format : pdf
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Title: Myanmar Officials, Ethnic Leaders Monitor China Border for Coronavirus
Description: "Intent on preventing an outbreak of the coronavirus in Myanmar, local officials and members of ethnic armed organizations, or EAOs, along the border with China have imposed travel restrictions, increased health checks, called for monitoring of Chinese workers and, in some areas, imposed fines. The border area — known for its rugged terrain beyond the government's control, enterprising smugglers, and long-simmering ethnic wars — concerns health authorities due to lax checkpoint controls. The measures in Myanmar by both the government and EAOs are being enacted as the number of deaths continue to increase in China, where coronavirus 2019-nCoV was first identified in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province. According to the government, there are no confirmed cases or deaths in Myanmar. However, the swift spread of the not fully understood virus has alarmed many, leaving officials to quell rumors born of fear and long-held anti-Chinese sentiment..."
Source/publisher: "VOA" (Washington, D.C)
Date of publication: 2020-02-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: 228 Taiwanese trapped in Myanmar's Mandalay due to virus-inspired flight suspension
Sub-title: Amid the coronavirus outbreak and panic, over 60 countries suspend flights to China
Description: "228 Taiwanese tourists are trapped in Myanmar's second-largest city, Mandalay, as the government suddenly suspends flights to Taiwan from the city, citing the escalating novel coronavirus outbreak. Taipei-based Far East International Tourism Group told local media outlets on Tuesday (Feb. 4) that 228 Taiwanese tourists traveling in Myanmar have been told their return flights set for Feb. 8 have been canceled. There are two air carriers operating flights between Taiwan and Myanmar. Taipei-based China Airlines operates flights between Taipei Taoyuan Intl. Airport and Yangon, Myanmar's largest city, and Myanmar Airways runs flights between Taipei Taoyuan and Mandalay, which just began operations last month. Far East International Tourism Group is responsible for tickets sales on behalf of Myanmar Airways in Taiwan. Media report that flights to Yangon remain normal, and only flights to Mandalay have been halted without prior notice. No further information about when Mandalay will resume flights to Taiwan was immediately available..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Taiwan News" (Taiwan)
Date of publication: 2020-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar earns US$300 M from over 1 M tons of rice export
Description: "Myanmar earned US$300.366 million from 1.047 million tons of rice and broken rice exports from October 1 to January 17 in this fiscal year, according to Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF). It earned about US$220 million from over seven million tons of rice export to 56 countries in that period and over US$80 million from over 300,000 tons of broken rice export in the same period, it said. It earned over US$39 million from over 150,000 tons of rice and broken rice exports through border routes in that period. It is over 14 per cent of total rice and broken rice exports. It earned over US$260 million from over 890,000 tons of rice and broken rice exports through maritime routes in that period. They are over 14 and 85 per cents of total rice and broken rice exports respectively. Myanmar exported 2.355 million tons of rice and broken rice and earned US$709.693 million in 2018-19 FY, announced the MRF. Myanmar is using border trade routes and maritime trade routes to export rice and broken rice exports..."
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-02-07
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-07
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Coronavirus Hits Myanmar’s Travel Agents
Description: " Myanmar’s travel agents have been further hit by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists and demands that tour operators cancel Chinese trips to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry canceled visas-on-arrival for Chinese visitors on Saturday and on Monday instructed tour operators to suspend all travel services for Chinese tourists and tours from China. By ZARNI MANN 4 February 2020 Yangon – Myanmar’s travel agents have been further hit by the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism’s suspension of visas-on-arrival for Chinese tourists and demands that tour operators cancel Chinese trips to stop the spread of the coronavirus. The ministry canceled visas-on-arrival for Chinese visitors on Saturday and on Monday instructed tour operators to suspend all travel services for Chinese tourists and tours from China. The move followed the announcement by the World Health Organization that the coronavirus outbreak was a global emergency. “We have to cancel all of the booked tours for February and the remaining tours are at risk until the end of the peak season. Operations have completely stopped for small travel agencies that only handle Chinese tours,” said a tour operator from Yangon, who asked not to be named. Myanmar had been expecting to receive more Chinese tourists this season than in previous years. “We received twice as many Chinese bookings than last year. We pray the coronavirus can be controlled,” the travel agent said. Myanmar received more than 300,000 Chinese tourists in 2018 and more than 750,000 in 2019, according to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism..."
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Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2020-02-04
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Local liquor makers struggle against illegal imports
Sub-title: Local liquor manufacturers are struggling to stay profitable as competition from illegal importers continues eat into their margins, said U Soe Lwin, chair of The Myanmar Liquor Association (MLA). Legally imported liquors and spirits like whiskeys, rum and gin are taxed upon entry and this is passed on to consumers.
Description: "“The total tax payable for our industry has increased to K200 billion for the 2019-20 year of assessment. The amount of taxes paid by this industry is rising by 25 percent to 30pc every year,” said U Htay Lwin, general secretary of the MLA. Illegal distributors, however, escape taxes and are able to sell liquor at lower prices in the black market. Imports of spirits are tightly restricted in Myanmar and it wasn’t until late 2015 that permitted the import of wines was permitted. However, only hotels and duty-free outlets have been allowed to import spirits and beer thus far. This has led to the proliferation of illegal imports, mostly at the border. The government is in the process of enacting laws intended to relax Myanmar’s existing ban on alcohol imports. Work on a draft legislation has moved to the attorney general for approval, after which it would be presented to the cabinet, according to the commerce ministry. U Win Thaw, a secretary of the MLA, said the main problem with the impending relaxation of the new import policy is that it does not address the black market situation where alcohol is smuggled through our borders without being taxed. He added that the legislation should not only formalise, but level the playing field between local producers and foreign liquor importers. Locally produced liquor brands include High Class, Glan Master and Grand Royal whiskies as well as Mandalay Rum..."
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-02-05
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Millions invested as NTT commits to Myanmar
Sub-title: Tech giant establishes affiliate company with investments to improve telco infrastructure
Description: "NTT Myanmar is officially in business following a multimillion-dollar capital investment, a new wholesale government licence and the opening of an office in Yangon. Operating as an affiliate company of NTT, the technology provider has secured a business-to-business wholesale licence from The Ministry of Commerce to offer technology solutions and managed services to enterprise clients following a capital investment of US$5 million. This is backed by an investment of US$400 million - revealed in December 2019 - to commence the construction of a ‘MIST’ large-capacity submarine communications cable between Singapore, Myanmar and India (Mumbai and Chennai). The construction is part of a strategic joint venture for international submarine cables in Southeast Asia, with Orient Link, to improve data speed and reduce latency..."
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Source/publisher: "Channel Asia" (Singapore)
Date of publication: 2020-02-03
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar receives over 4mil foreign tourists in 2019
Description: "Myanmar received over 4.36 million foreign visitors in 2019, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism has announced. Tourist arrivals of 2019 increased by 23%, compared to the same period of the year 2018 when over 3.55 million foreign travellers arrived in Myanmar, the ministry said. The ministry recently announced granting visa-on-arrivals to ordinary passport holders from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and New Zealand, who will enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Naypyitaw international airports, for a three-year probation period until Dec. 31,2022. Also, visa-exemption days were extended to 30 days for Vietnamese tourists in Myanmar starting from the first day of this month. Meanwhile, the visa exemption pilot program for visitors from Japan, South Korea and China has been recently extended until Sept 30 this year. Foreign travellers visit Myanmar mainly through three international airports -- Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the border gates as well as via luxury cruise liners. Enditem IN another matter, Myanmar logged 957 drug-related cases, which involved 1,480 suspects within two years, state-run media reported quoting a release from the President Office..."
Source/publisher: "The Star Online" (Selangor)
Date of publication: 2020-02-01
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-02
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Business groups voice opposition to Myanmar govt′s car plan
Topic: The Automotive Association of Myanmar (AAM), European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) and other vehicle industry bodies are voicing their opposition to a plan announced by the Ministry of Commerce that would see the providing of vehicle import permits to senior governments officials as an incentive.
Topic: The Automotive Association of Myanmar (AAM), European Chamber of Commerce (EuroCham) and other vehicle industry bodies are voicing their opposition to a plan announced by the Ministry of Commerce that would see the providing of vehicle import permits to senior governments officials as an incentive.
Description: "Representatives of the British Chamber of Myanmar, European Chamber of Myanmar, Delegation of German Industry and Commerce in Myanmar, EuroCham Myanmar Automotive Advocacy Group and AAM held a joint press conference on the issue yesterday in Yangon. On January 2, the Ministry of Commerce announced that senior government officials, such as directors general, deputy directors general, and those with a minimum of 25 years of excellent service, would be given import permits for vehicles as rewards for their work. The vehicles approved for import would be determined by the ministry on a yearly basis and would be allowed into the country directly without going through a showroom or car dealership. “If the government goes ahead with this plan, it will affect the whole automotive industry greatly. The image of the industry in Myanmar, which is heavily dependent on foreign investment, will not be good,” said Mr Peter Beynon, chair of the British Chamber of Commerce Myanmar. Following the announcement of the plan, the AAM wrote to the Ministry of Commerce asking that the plan be reviewed or shelved. The AAM said the plan would raise feelings on unfairness among people who have to pay taxes to the government for the cars they buy through ordinary channels and also cause price instability in the local car market. The AAM further stated that the plan would damage companies assembling vehicles for sale in the local market, and car sales centres owned by local companies..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-01-30
Date of entry/update: 2020-02-01
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..."
Creator/author:
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: Myanmar Military Faces Added International Scrutiny
Description: "Increasing conflict between Myanmar’s ethnic armed groups and government forces during the last year has increased civilian casualties amid mounting allegations of war crimes. With the U.N.’s International Court of Justice order that the country "take all measures within its power" to prevent any acts of genocide against ethnic Rohingya Muslims, who fled the country amid a bloody military crackdown in 2017, other ethnic minorities that have been fighting for decades over control of resource-rich territory are coming forward to voice their concerns over past documented atrocities, also carried out by the Myanmar military. The mountainside village of Pain Lone in Shan State was the site of such conflict last fall between government forces and the Ta’ang National Liberation Army, an armed ethnic group based in the region, panicking students scrambling for cover as their afternoon classes were ending. "The sound of the helicopters was very terrifying and the loud explosions falling around the village were terrible,” recalls local instructor U Maung Chone, who teaches in the remote mountain settlement.“ It doesn’t matter if they are falling in the town or just in the area. The explosions were very frightening for the kids,” the 45-year-old said, adding that he’d never seen army helicopters in more than two decades of teaching..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "VOA" (Washington, D.C)
Date of publication: 2020-01-26
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Virus delays Myanmar tourism’s comeback bid
Sub-title: Things seemed to be looking very bright this year for Myanmar’s tourism industry, which was poised to attract a record number of tourists after two years in doldrums due to the humanitarian crisis in northern Rakhine State.
Description: "At the end of last year, the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said the number of foreign arrivals, including business travellers and border traders, rose by 23 percent to 4.36 million, up from 3.55 million the previous year. But the upward momentum of the industry took a big hit with the recent outbreak of the new coronavirus in China. Government data showed that Chinese nationals accounted for nearly a third of the over two million tourists who visited the country last year, a 152pc increase from the previous year. The coronavirus outbreak in China has killed 170 people since it was first reported on December 31. At least 20pc of tourist bookings from China have been cancelled, and Chinese airlines have suspended their flights to Myanmar’s key cities of Yangon, Nay Pyi Taw and Mandalay as part of the effort to contain the disease. “Group tours have been cancelled,” said U Khin Zaw, adviser to the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism. “Chinese travellers are more afraid now than when Cyclone Nargis hit the country. It affects the entire tourism sector.” U Khin Aung Tun, vice chair of the Myanmar Tourism Federation, said that before the outbreak, bookings from China reached over 200,000. “The main point is that we need to protect our country. If something happens here, the numbers of foreign tourists here may decline.” Eden, Myanmar’s leading hotel group, said that about 25 percent of its tourist bookings had been cancelled in recent days..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-01-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-31
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar receives over 4 mln foreign tourists in 2019
Description: "Myanmar received over 4.36 million foreign visitors in 2019, said the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism on Wednesday. Tourist arrivals of 2019 increased by 23 percent, compared to the same period of the year 2018 when over 3.55 million foreign travellers arrived in Myanmar, the ministry said. The ministry recently announced granting visa-on-arrivals to ordinary passport holders from Austria, Czech Republic, Hungary, Luxembourg and New Zealand, who will enter Myanmar through Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports, for a three-year probation period until Dec. 31, 2022. Also, visa-exemption days were extended to 30 days for Vietnamese tourists in Myanmar starting from the first day of this month. Meanwhile, the visa exemption pilot program for visitors from Japan, South Korea and China has been recently extended until Sept. 30 this year. Foreign travellers visit Myanmar mainly through three international airports -- Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw, the border gates as well as via luxury cruise liners..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-01-29
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar attracts nearly 2 bln USD foreign investments in 1st quarter of FY 2019-20
Description: " Myanmar attracted investment capital of over 1.83 billion U.S. dollars from permitted foreign enterprises in first quarter of present fiscal year 2019-2020 which started in October last year, said a release issued by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Tuesday. From Oct. 1, 2019 to Jan. 24 of this FY, the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) gave the nod to 100 foreign enterprises. At a recent meeting of the commission earlier this month, a total of 23 foreign enterprises with investment capital of over 433.8 million U.S. dollars were approved by the MIC. Creating 11,951 local employment opportunities, the investments from the recently approved enterprises entered the country’s power, real estate, livestock and fisheries and manufacturing sectors, respectively. Meanwhile, the MIC gave the green light to 39 Myanmar citizen investment enterprises with over 647.6 billion kyats (431.7 million U.S. dollars) as of Jan. 24 in present FY 2019-2020..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-01-28
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Prospects for Myanmar’s development and governance
Description: "Myanmar’s efforts to reverse a legacy of isolation began with the quasi-civilian government led by then-president U Thein Sein. From 2011–2015, his government undertook a series of political, economic and social reforms that built the foundation for future democratic development. Key reform initiatives under his administration included renewed engagement with ethnic armed forces, a relaxation of press censorship, liberalisation of the telecommunications sector, increased autonomy of the Central Bank of Myanmar and improvement of the budgetary and taxation system. The government also attempted to improve private sector development by reducing red tape to ease business costs and attract foreign investment. During U Thein Sein’s presidential term, Myanmar became one of the fastest growing economies in ASEAN, with an average growth rate of 7.3 per cent. The country also achieved the Human Development Index’s medium-ranked member status. Major challenges remain despite these positive developments: land disputes, informal settlements in cities, inadequate basic infrastructure and most importantly an unstable political situation due to conflict in Rakhine, Shan and Kachin states. The political landscape of Myanmar changed dramatically after the second general election in 2015 when Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won a majority of seats in the people’s parliament, national parliaments and sub-national parliaments. The new government was immediately confronted by existing and new challenges. A few months before the elections, 12 out of 14 regions and states were affected by flooding that damaged 1.9 million acres of farmland causing the price of rice to increase. A 20 per cent drop in net inflow of FDI and a growth rate sinking to 5.9 per cent (from the average 7.3 per cent growth rate of president U Thein Sein’s administration) also made 2016 a difficult year for the new government..."
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Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of publication: 2020-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: REPORTSMyanmar’s Growth Resilient Despite Global Slowdown
Description: "Myanmar’s economy continues to show resilience despite the ongoing global slowdown and domestic uncertainties, according to a new World Bank report released today. The Myanmar Economic Monitor for December 2019 estimates that Myanmar’s economy grew at 6.3 percent in 2018-19, marginally higher than 6.2 percent in 2017-18. Economic growth is expected to reach 6.4 percent in 2019-20, helped by growing investment in the transport and telecommunications sector and planned infrastructure spending by the government before the 2020 elections. The service sector is the main driver of growth in Myanmar and is expected to grow by 8.4 percent in 2018-19. A slow recovery in tourism related services is offset by robust growth in wholesale and retail trade. The industrial sector is expected to grow by 6.4 percent, on the back of strong manufacturing growth offsetting slower growth in construction. Despite seasonal floods and volatile demand, agriculture output growth is projected to be stable at 1.6 percent, with greater diversification in production and export destinations, but remains below potential..."
Source/publisher: "Modern Diplomacy"
Date of publication: 2020-01-18
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Tourists to Myanmar going up, but falling short of projections
Description: "Vietnam to the right of me, Myanmar to the left, Thailand stuck in the middle…. Myanmar’s 2019 tourism figures improved 15% to give the country 1,324,000 tourist arrivals through the main airport at Yangon. Officials released the 2019 visitor data for Yangon Airport, which excludes cross border arrivals and arrivals through Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw airports, the country’s two other international aviation gateways. Once overland arrivals at border checkpoints are counted, the annual inbound tourist numbers are expected to swell to around 4 million for the full 2019 year. But the numbers fall well short of the projections made for 2020 which said there would be 7.5 million tourist arrivals by the end of the last decade by the Asian Development Bank. The projections were made by a detailed report on Bumese tourism back in 2013. In 2019, Asian tourist emerged as the dominant supply with 1,060,396 arrivals at Yangon airport last year, an increase of 20%. This compares with 142,443 arrivals from Western Europe, 0% growth for 2019..."
Source/publisher: "The Thaiger" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2020-01-17
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar exports 30,000 tons of rice through maritime trade within a week
Description: "Myanmar exported about 30,000 tons of rice worth US$8.8 million through maritime trade from December 22 to 27, according to figures from Ministry of Commerce. About 8,000 tons of rice is exported to Asian countries and about 3,000 tons of rice is exported to EU countries. About 18,000 tons of rice is exported to African countries and 25 tons of rice is exported to a new market, Puerto Rico. It exported about US$2 million worth of over 6,600 tons of rice to China and Thailand via border trade centers, according to the ministry. Myanmar exported over 3,500 tons of rice from Muse 105-mile border trade center, about 600 tons of rice from Chinshwehaw border trade center, about 1,400 tons of rice from Lweje border trade center, about 80 tons of rice from Kanpikete border trade center and more than 1,100 tons of rice from Techilek border trade center..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: Eleven Media Group (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2020-01-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar reports tourist arrivals
Description: "Myanmar’s 2019 tourism performance improved 15% to give the country 1,323,994 tourist arrivals through the country’s main gateway Yangon airport. Officials released the year’s visitor data for the Yangon aviation gateway which excludes arrivals overland and through Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw the country’s two other international airports. Once overland arrivals at all border checkpoints are counted, the annual performance could reach 4 million in 2019. But that is a far cry from the 2020 forecast of 7.5 million outlined in the country’s tourism masterplan 2013 to 2020 that was funded by the Asian Development Bank. However, for the country’s travel industry, airline arrivals at Yangon airport are considered an accurate yardstick to measure the success of worldwide tourism promotions. In 2019, Asia emerged as the dominant supply region accumulating 1,060,396 arrivals an increase of 20%. This compared with just 142,443 arrivals from West Europe that recorded zero growth over 2018. China drives the growth in Asian markets, delivering 344,268 arrivals up by a massive 75% and replacing Thailand as the top supply market. Thailand now the second-largest market closed the year with 229,852 arrivals an increase of 2%..."
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Source/publisher: "TTR Weekly" (Bangkok)
Date of publication: 2020-01-14
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Understanding China’s Belt and Road Initiative in Northern Laos through the Prism of Continuity
Description: "Upon his visit to Laos in November 2017, Xi Jinping wrote in an open letter, published in English and Lao in Laotian mainstream media, that “there is a high degree of complementarity between China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and the strategy of Laos to transform itself from a landlocked to a land-linked country.” He further described the China-Laos Railway, the flagship of the BRI in Laos, as "(t)he transportation artillery that will drive the development of Laos (and that) is a dream coming true.” These lines point to two central features of China’s BRI. One is its embracing of the “Chinese Dream”, already extended as China’s “Asia-Pacific Dream”; the second is, more importantly, its discursive power of scripting China’s geopolitical and economic interests in the rhetoric of its partners’ national development strategies. As the land-linked strategy has been already advertised by the Laotian government for more than two decades, the BRI in Laos is, rather than breaking new ground, an intensified and accelerated continuation of already existing development strategies and policies..."
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Source/publisher: "The Business Times" (Singapore)
Date of publication: 2020-01-13
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Asia In-Depth Podcast: What Happened to Myanmar?
Description: "Few countries in Asia have a recent history as turbulent as Myanmar. The election of the National League for Democracy in 2015, which followed the freeing of party leader Aung San Suu Kyi from house arrest, caused companies and civil society organizations to return and ignited a fresh optimism about the country's future. But just as quickly as Myanmar's fortunes rose, they seemed to fall. The military responded to violence in Rakhine state with a brutal and deadly crackdown of the Rohingya minority, while the government has arrested journalists and rights advocates. In just a few short years, Myanmar's international image has plummeted and its hopes for prosperity have been set back. Aung San Suu Kyi has gone from being a revered Nobel Peace laureate to a leader accused of abetting crimes against humanity. Why did Myanmar's hopeful democratic transition go wrong? And what happens next? In the latest episode of Asia In-Depth, Thant Myint-U, author of the recent book The Hidden History of Burma, talks to Asia Society Executive Vice President Tom Nagorski about the tough questions surrounding Myanmar's transition..."
Source/publisher: "Asia Society" ( New York)
Date of publication: 2020-01-10
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-12
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar approves six more local, foreign investment enterprises
Description: "Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved six more investment enterprises from both home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Saturday. The enterprises, which will create over 1,300 local employment opportunities, were given the go-ahead at the commission's meeting held on Friday. With investment capital of 257.8 million U.S. dollars and 60.2 billion kyats (40.1 million U.S. dollars), the permitted enterprises engaged in the country's power, manufacturing, hotel and other services sectors, respectively. Meanwhile, the commission approved 39 foreign enterprises with investment capital of over 1 billion U.S. dollars in first two months of present fiscal year 2019-2020 which started in October, the DICA's figures said..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-01-11
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: The top-10 events that shaped Myanmar’s economy in 2019
Sub-title: Myanmar witnessed an economic slowdown in fiscal 2019, with GDP growth downgraded to 6.5 percent from 6.8pc in 2018, and foreign direct investments (FDI) hitting just 70pc of official targets. The economy also took a hit from slowing global growth and uncertainty arising from the trade war between China and the US.
Description: "But the Myanmar government also took progressive measures to boost the economy. It led further liberalisation in various sectors of the economy and took steps to address the country’s power shortage. It also announced new tax reductions and reliefs aimed at boosting state coffers and economic activity, garnering applause from the business community. During the year, the government took efforts to attract FDI in spite of the ongoing Rakhine crisis and lawsuit filed against Myanmar in the International Court of Justice by Gambia, which tarnished the country’s image as an investment destination. Among them were a string of investment forums held in the states and regions, which were aimed at drawing investors to rural areas like Rakhine and Chin. Here are the top ten events in business and investments that shaped the Myanmar economy in 2019: 1. Insurance sector liberalised Five insurance firms – British Prudential, Japanese Dai-ichi Life, Hong Kong AIA, US Chubb and Canadian Manulife – finally received licenses to operate in Myanmar in late November after a two-year delay. In addition, six insurance JVs of foreign and local firms also received the green light. The three JVs for non-life insurance are AYA Myanmar General Insurance and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance; Grand Guardian General Insurance and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance; and IKBZ Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-12-31
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-11
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar earns over 2 bln USD from manufacturing exports in 3 months
Description: " Myanmar earned over 2.49 billion U.S. dollars from export of finished industrial goods in the first three months of present fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Thursday. As of Dec. 27 of this FY, the export of finished industrial goods or manufacturing goods export topped the list among other export products. This FY's figures increased by over 718.5 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it fetched over 1.77 billion U.S. dollars. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries. During the period, the country's export totaled over 4.56 billion U.S. dollars while its import shared over 4.57 billion U.S. dollars, the ministry's figures said..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2020-01-09
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-10
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Western Union 'cuts ties' with Myanmar military's bank
Sub-title: Rights groups have been calling on companies to cut ties with Myanmar military responsible for Rohingya atrocities
Description: "A leading global money transfer service Western Union has stopped using a military-owned bank as one of its agents in Myanmar, rights groups said. Western Union is one among the most recognizable names on the Dirty List of the international companies for doing business with military in Myanmar. The list was published by two rights campaign groups -- Burma Campaign UK and International Campaign for the Rohingya -- in December 2018. In an e-mail to Burma Campaign UK on Wednesday, Western Union said it has ended contract with Myawaddy Bank, a subsidiary of military business conglomerate Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL), with immediate effect, said a joint statement by the advocacy groups. Western Union could not be reached for a comment, but an official at Myawaddy Bank confirmed the development to Anadolu Agency. "Western Union services are no longer available from our bank. It is Western Union’s decision to end the contract," the official told Anadolu Agency on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on speaking to the media. The campaign groups said that Western Union has now been removed from the Dirty List. Mark Farmaner, director of Burma Campaign UK, said that Western Union is the biggest company so far to end a business relationship with a military-owned company..."
Source/publisher: "Anadolu Agency" (Ankara)
Date of publication: 2020-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar’s economy to shine in 2020?
Topic: Economy, Markets, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office, Tourism, E-Commerce, Myanmar
Topic: Economy, Markets, ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office, Tourism, E-Commerce, Myanmar
Description: "It was reported recently that the ASEAN +3 Macroeconomic Research Office (AMRO) had given Myanmar’s economy a positive outlook for the fiscal year of 2019 to 2020, expecting it to expand by 7.1 percent up from 6.8 percent in the previous fiscal year. This is largely thanks to reform momentum, improving business sentiments, growth in manufacturing, tourism related expansion and stronger fiscal spending. According to AMRO, the five key sectors with growth potential in Myanmar this year are (1) the tourism industry, (2) property, (3) insurance, (4) digital transactions and (5) the stock exchange business. Looking at the tourism industry, several measures have been taken to attract tourists. Among these measures is the easing up on visa requirements. Beginning 1 October last year, tourists from Australia, Germany, Italy, Spain, Switzerland and Russia were given visas on arrival for US$50 each at Yangon, Mandalay and Nay Pyi Taw international airports. Even more recently, on 1 January, the government of Myanmar relaxed its visa regulations for five more countries. Travellers from the Czech Republic, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Hungary and Austria will be given visas on arrival when entering the country for the next three years. There have also been a slew of new flight routes coming in and out of Myanmar and neighbouring countries including India, China, Cambodia, and Thailand all throughout 2019..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The ASEAN Post" (Malaysia)
Date of publication: 2020-01-08
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: China factory activity slowed in December: Private sector survey
Sub-title: But manufacturing activity across Asia showed signs of recovery as recent survey data indicated growth in late 2019.
Description: "China's factory activity expanded at a slower clip in December, pulling back from a three-year high the previous month as new orders softened, a private survey showed on Thursday. But business confidence shot up amid thawing trade tensions with the United States, offering some support for the cooling economy. Beijing and Washington agreed last month on an initial deal that will de-escalate their prolonged trade war. More: Date set for US-China trade deal sends world markets to new high Singapore slump: Economic growth falls in 2019 on trade woes Hong Kong economy to shrink in fourth quarter, says finance chief The Caixin/Markit Manufacturing Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) for December eased to 51.5 from 51.8 the previous month missing analysts' expectations that the reading would hold steady. But it remained above the 50-mark that separates expansion from contraction for the fifth straight month..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of publication: 2020-01-02
Date of entry/update: 2020-01-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Can Myanmar's Economy Fulfil its Potential?
Description: "With gross domestic product (GDP) growth consistently above 5 percent throughout this decade, and in double digits for much of the previous decade, Myanmar has been one of South East Asia’s fastest-growing economies for quite some time. What’s more, this newly liberalised nation is being touted to likely continue growing expeditiously well into the 2020s. That said, recent years have seen Myanmar’s growth showing a distinct sign of waning from its once lofty heights: Some believe this ongoing slowdown may continue over the next few years. The International Monetary Fund (IMF), for instance, recently stated that Myanmar’s economy appears to be losing momentum. “Myanmar’s economy is expected to gain steam over the medium term albeit at a somewhat slower pace than previously envisaged and subject to greater downside risks” was the IMF Executive Board’s recent assessment. Part of the concern over Myanmar’s economic outlook is directed at the National League for Democracy (NLD) government, which came to power in 2016 after a thumping election victory put an end to decades of military rule. But since then, the NLD has come in for much criticism for the economy’s overall performance, as well as the slow pace at which reforms are being enacted that would enable Myanmar to make the full transition into a liberalised market economy. Perhaps the economic underperformance of recent years is understandable. After all, achieving peace in all regions of the nation continues to remain elusive, meaning that the government has been primarily focused on reconciliation before it can move ahead with other priorities, such as bringing about economic prosperity. Even today, tensions persist, not only between the NLD and the military but also between the military and armed ethnic groups in various parts of the country..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "International Banker"
Date of publication: 2019-06-26
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: The gloom about Myanmar’s economy
Sub-title: Many problems can be sheeted home Aung San Suu Kyi – even if there are few critics willing to suggest alternatives.
Description: "Talking to business owners across a variety of sectors in Yangon in January this year, the mood was universally glum. Big-spending Western tourists were staying away in droves, concerned over human rights abuses. Bureaucratic red tape was clogging up business and investment, and the country remains a logistics nightmare. More than halfway through its five-year term, it is clear Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) was chronically under-prepared for government and has strikingly failed to get a grip on the economy. Yet Myanmar’s increasingly troubled economy tends to get overlooked, amid the armed conflicts that could tear the country apart. In particular, headlines are dominated by the Rohingya tragedy that has seen more than 700,000 flee to Bangladesh, and the ongoing civil war across Kachin and Shan states in the north of the country. The World Bank, in its half-yearly update on Myanmar in December, cited softening consumption, slowing investment. and rising production-cost pressure from fuel price increases and the depreciation of the local currency, the Kyat, which has fallen by 16% against the US dollar in the past 12 months. Myanmar’s GDP growth is also forecast to fall, while almost every other measure of economic activity is also softening. The risks, the World Bank says, are all on the downside..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Interpreter"
Date of publication: 2019-02-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Mekong countries and the UN join forces to fight drug scourge
Sub-title: Ministers on Friday agreed to regularly share intelligence and carry out more coordinated anti-trafficking operations.
Description: "Five Southeast Asian countries, China, and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) agreed on Friday to improve intelligence sharing and law enforcement operations to fight drug trafficking in the region by transnational crime groups. Southeast Asia's Golden Triangle - northern Myanmar and parts of Thailand and Laos - has long been a hub of illicit drug production and trafficking. More: Asia's Meth Boom Golden Triangle's drug production surges amid opioid worries Has the decade-old war on drugs in Asia succeeded? While opium cultivation and heroin refining have fallen in the past decade, the area is now at the heart of the Asia-Pacific methamphetamine trade, which the UNODC estimates to be worth as much as $61.4bn in 2018, up from an estimated $15bn just five years earlier..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of publication: 2019-11-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-15
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Xi's Belt-Road Initiative: Recalibration, Strategic Imperatives
Description: "The second Belt-Road Forum (BRF) was held in Beijing from 25-27 April 2019. The three-day event was organized to promote the ‘Belt-Road Initiative’ (BRI) - President Xi Jinping’s multi-trillion-dollar infrastructure development and investment venture. The Summit was attended by 40 global leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin and Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan, China’s two closest allies. The gathering was larger than the first Summit held in 2017, which had just 29 participants. Among the new entrants were Austria, Portugal, the United Arab Emirates, Singapore and Thailand. Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte became the first G7 leader to join the BRI. India stayed out for the second time on grounds of sovereignty given that the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) traverses through Pakistan-occupied Jammu and Kashmir (PoJK). BRI has come under fire due to lack of transparency, weak institutional mechanism, scepticism about Chinese loans leading to debt trap, and poor environmental record. Besides, it is being perceived as an exclusive ‘Chinese Club’. With new deals aggregating US$ 64 billion signed and 283 concrete deliverable outcomes, despite criticism particularly from the US and its allies, the grand plan apparently remains on track and is gaining international traction. With a view to dispel growing concerns, the focus of this second Forum was on projecting BRI as an attractive investment destination. President Xi staunchly defended the Belt-Road, assuring its ‘win-win’ outcome..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)" (New Delhi)
Date of publication: 2019-05-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Xi’s Nepal Visit Reveals a Grander Chinese Himalayan Approach
Description: "Not long ago, Beijing’s perspective towards Nepal was limited to that of a ‘good neighbour’ only.1 Though the presence of about 20,000 Tibetans in Nepal has been an issue of major concern to Beijing, it has carefully managed its relations with Nepal which it sees as a strategic geographic zone in the Himalayan valley. The Chinese outlook seems to be changing fast as evident from the outcomes of President Xi Jinping’s recent visit to Nepal on October 12-13, 2019. With growing emphasis on strengthening bilateral cooperation especially on building sub-regional connectivity,2 Beijing seems to be orchestrating a Himalayan approach in its relations with Kathmandu – revealing a grander Chinese policy in making. On the side-lines of his Nepal visit, President Xi’s article published in Nepali newspapers sketched a bigger Chinese ambition with a view to forge “strategic and long-term” cooperation between the two sides.3 Stressing on a ‘renewed friendship’, Xi’s article was a curtain raiser to the joint statement which outlined resolute Chinese goals to promote “trans-Himalayan multi-dimensional connectivity network” in the region. Such ambitions are not unusual in Chinese strategic calculus — a similar approach could be noticed in China’s interactions with other immediate neighbours such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Myanmar in particular. What is striking about China’s recent outreach to Nepal is its effort to transform the relationship into a comprehensive partnership, aiming to integrate with its Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) in the Himalayan valley..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA)" (New Delhi)
Date of publication: 2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-09
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Chinese Projects Under Belt & Road Initiative in Central Asia, Pakistan, Myanmar Projected to Lose Money: Report
Sub-title: For instance, the Kara-Balta oil refinery -- Kyrgyzstan's largest Chinese investment -- has faced significant problems with overcapacity in the recent years.
Description: "Chinese infrastructure projects under its One Belt One Road (OBOR) initiatives in Central Asia, Pakistan and Myanmar are projected to lose money due to underutilisation and could potentially cause more harm than good, a prominent US think-tank said in a report on Thursday. In its latest report on China, the Centre for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) said India has expressed significant hesitation toward the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) of China. Leaders in New Delhi opted out of both the 2017 and 2019 Belt and Road Forums. In addition to being generally skeptical of the BRI, one specific major concern is building of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) through Kashmir, it said. Economic considerations further complicate these concerns, the CSIS said in its report. "BRI infrastructure projects in Central Asia, Pakistan and Myanmar are projected to lose money due to underutilisation and could potentially cause more harm than good, it said. For instance, the Kara-Balta oil refinery -- Kyrgyzstan's largest Chinese investment -- has faced significant problems with overcapacity in the recent years..."
Source/publisher: "News 18" (UK)
Date of publication: 2019-12-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: The reforms behind Myanmar’s climb up the ease of doing business index
Description: "In an endorsement of ongoing efforts to reform the economy, Myanmar has been named one of the top-20 most-improved countries in the World Bank’s 2020 ease of doing business index. The index – part of the “Doing Business 2020” report – lists the economies that have recorded the greatest improvement in their ease of doing business score. The bank identified five recently implemented initiatives that have strengthened the business environment. In terms of regulatory and legal measures, the reforms cited include the City of Yangon’s decision to impose stricter qualification requirements for architects and engineers, along with a new companies law that strengthens minority investor protections and boosts transparency by mandating fuller disclosure of transactions. To streamline bureaucratic processes, the government, via the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, launched an online company registration platform, simultaneously digitising and merging several previously existing procedures..."
Source/publisher: "The Borneo Post" (Malaysia)
Date of publication: 2019-12-08
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-08
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar admits foreign life insurers
Sub-title: AIA, Chubb and others hope for rich pickings in South-East Asia’s most populous mainland country
Description: "Ko phoe thar is a cheery 22-year-old liquor-store clerk from Mandalay, a city in central Myanmar. Death, and other less-certain future misfortunes, are far from his mind. A host of insurance companies newly arrived in the country would like to change that. Last week the finance ministry issued licences to foreign life insurers for the first time. Five—aia, Chubb, Dai-Ichi Life, Manulife and Prudential plc—have been permitted to operate as wholly owned subsidiaries. Others are required to find local partners. Foreign insurers have long licked their lips at the prospect of moving into Myanmar..."
Source/publisher: "The Economist" (London)
Date of publication: 2019-12-05
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Expo held to boost Lancang-Mekong sub-regional trade and investment
Description: " The 2019 Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Exposition opened Thursday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, aiming at boosting sub-regional trade and investment. More than 2,000 merchants from home and abroad are expected to attend the five-day event, which has set up 1,800 booths in five exhibition halls, covering investment and trade, culture and tourism, featured commodities of Lancang-Mekong countries and other areas. The Lancang-Mekong Cooperation Dianchi Forum was held on the same day, focusing on cross-border economic cooperation and the construction of a pilot free trade zone. It also consists of several parallel sessions including the China-Laos and China-Cambodia investment symposiums, according to the organizer. Lu Pengqi, vice chairman of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, said such activities will help deepen economic and trade cooperation between Lancang-Mekong countries..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-11-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-05
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: McConnell questions Pompeo on Hong Kong, Myanmar in Louisville visit
Sub-title: ‘What’s your take on Aung San Suu Kyi?’
Description: "Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell was in his element Monday morning as he welcomed Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to the University of Louisville. The Kentucky Republican served as interviewer for an onstage discussion with Pompeo, who is widely known to be the preferred candidate of McConnell and other senior Republicans for the Senate seat in Kansas being opened by the pending retirement of GOP Sen. Pat Roberts. While McConnell did not ask the former CIA director and House member from Kansas about his interest in running for that Senate seat next year (at least not on stage), the question and answer session hit on some of McConnell’s other favorite topics. “What’s your take on Aung San Suu Kyi?” McConnell asked in his closing question at the event hosted by the McConnell Center. The Senate majority leader has long been the leading voice on U.S. policy toward Myanmar, having a decades-long association with Suu Kyi, whose holds the title of State Counsellor, where she leads the civilian government of the country also known as Burma..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Roll Call" (USA)
Date of publication: 2019-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Wisdom and Grace: Asia bound: Hong Kong and Myanmar
Description: "When you read this, I won’t be around. I am bound for Asia: Hong Kong and then onto Myanmar (Burma). It is probably the longest, scariest trip I have ever taken. If you are a praying person, please stop and say a prayer for me. It isn’t the first time I have been to Asia. In 1974, I was getting ready to graduate from Bible College when I was asked to join a mission team for the summer in Hong Kong. There were four girls and two guys on our team named “The Harbingers” (Messengers). One of the students was Wong Yan Wing who was in my graduating class. He was returning to his homeland and taking a team with him to lay a foundation for a new church work in Mei Foo Sun Chuen. Nearly all the schools in Hong Kong were operated by churches. They were thrilled to have a group of college students come and present a program consisting of music, drama and art. I was the “art” portion of the program and drew a picture of a rock wall surrounding a garden while Wing beautifully sang the hymn “In the Garden.” I may have done some drama, also. In Hong Kong they say or write the last name first and the first name last. So “Wong Yan Wing” was “Wing Wong” to us or just “Wing.” He used to say, “My father’s name is ‘Ling,’ my name is ‘Wing,’ I have a sister named ‘Ying’ and a brother named ‘Ming.’ So, when you call our house be sure you don’t ‘Wing’ the ‘Wong’ number!” Ha! I still think that’s funny..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Havre Daily News" (USA)
Date of publication: 2019-12-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: The US-China trade war and Brexit don’t help, but behind sluggish global growth lies political gridlock
Description: "The US economy ended 2018 with a whimper and a 1.1 per cent annual rate of gross domestic product growth, and then started the first quarter of 2019 with a bang – 3.1 per cent growth. The economy has since settled back to 2 per cent or less, where it seems likely to linger unless major shocks occur. The world economy is slowing, too, but fears of an escalation in China-US trade tensions or a very disorderly Brexit have eased. Three cuts in interest rates by the US Federal Reserve, along with large liquidity injections to prevent disorderly short-term money markets, have helped keep the economy turning over, if not humming. Consumers keep spending, but business investment is sluggish. Monetary authorities have eased about as much as they can. Short and long interest rates in the United States are now zero in real terms – adjusted to remove the effects of inflation and reflect real borrowing costs and yield – and negative in nominal terms in much of Europe and Japan. A major question mark is China. It has not resorted to extremely expansionary credit growth or very large government deficits. Its economy is officially growing at about 6 per cent a year, but many outside experts suggest that the actual growth rate is 2 to 3 percentage points lower than that..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication: 2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-12-01
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar opens market to foreign insurers
Description: "British Prudential, Japanese Dai-ichi Life, Hong Kong AIA, US Chubb, and Canadian Manulife have been permitted to issue life insurance policies in Myanmar with their fully-owned subsidiary, more than six months after the five insurers were granted provisional licences. According to Prudential, Myanmar has a fast-growing middle class, as well as an increasingly urbanised and tech-savvy population. The country has around 57 million mobile subscriptions, with a mobile penetration of around 105%. The insurer will attempt to harness its wide-ranging digital capabilities and broad range of offerings in Asia, and implement a digital-led strategy, complemented by face-to-face distribution, to broaden access to life insurance in Myanmar, the insurer said in a statement. The department also granted licences to three life and three non-life joint ventures between foreign and local firms - AYA Myanmar General Insurance and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance, Grand Guardian General Insurance and Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, and IKBZ Insurance and Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "International Investment"
Date of publication: 2019-11-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar approves 5 more local, foreign investment enterprises
Description: "Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved five more investment enterprises from home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Saturday. The local and foreign investment enterprises which will create over 1,001 local employment opportunities were approved at the commission's meeting held on Friday. The permitted enterprises will engage in the country's power, livestock and fishery, and real estate sectors. Meanwhile, Myanmar attracted over 292.1 million U.S. dollars' foreign direct investment in manufacturing, other services and real estate sectors in October, first month of present fiscal year 2019-2020. Regionally, Yangon region attracts 60 percent of both local and foreign investments, followed by Mandalay region with 30 percent and the rest flows into other regions and states..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-11-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: OUELH expands into Myanmar healthcare with US$19.5m acquisition
Description: "OUE Lippo Healthcare (OUELH) is venturing into Myanmar with stake acquisitions in two joint venture companies that own three hospitals, one medical centre and two clinics. This will give the company presence in the key cities of Yangon, Mandalay and Taunggyi, the subsidiary company of OUE Limited said on Thursday. OUELH’s wholly owned units have signed a sale and purchase agreement with Waluya Graha Loka to acquire a 40 per cent stake in Yoma Siloam Hospital Pun Hlaing Limited (YSHPH), and a 35 per cent stake in Pun Hlaing International Hospital Limited (PHIH), for US$19.5 million in all. The vendor is considered an associate of Stephen Riady, the non-independent, non-executive director of OUE Lippo Healthcare. It is also an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of property company Lippo Karawaci. Both YSHPH and PHIH are joint venture companies with First Myanmar Investment (FMI), which is part of the enlarged Yoma Group that also comprises SGX-listed Yoma Strategic. FMI, which has businesses in real estate, health care, financial services, and tourism, is also the first company listed on the Yangon Stock Exchange..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Business Times" (Singapore)
Date of publication: 2019-01-10
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-30
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Does China Want to Take Over the World? Part Two: The Belt and Road Initiative
Description: "There are three major components to China’s global ambitions: The Belt and Road Initiative, 5G, and the South China Sea. Simone Gao: I mean in the history of the world, very few power or no power has been able to dominate both land and sea, you know, at the same time. But China, through belt and road initiative is trying to do that. John Sitilides: One of the benefits of having a command economy is you can plan out what your objectives are and then order your corporations, your banks, your lending institutions, your industrial leaders to undertake the policies you need to achieve the goals under a command economy. Huawei has secured 5G contracts with over 60 countries around the world, many of which are U.S. allies, despite American warnings over cybersecurity concerns. John Sitilides: China probably has its single most effective lobbying operation in Brussels, than anywhere else in the world. Simone Gao: What do you think China’s final goal is in the South China sea and what is America’s plan on China?..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Epoch Times" (New York)
Date of publication: 2019-11-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar tycoon open to foreign investment in wake of Ayala deal
Description: "Myanmar tycoon Win Aung is open to foreign investment in the listed industrial-estate provider he oversees, following Ayala Corp's tie-up with a firm traded on the nation's fledgling stock exchange. In an interview in Yangon, Win Aung said a stake sale is an option as he plans to expand Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings, which operates a manufacturing zone where 109 firms have opened factories or plan to do so. "We'll need more capital and technology," Win Aung, the firm's chairman, said on Thursday (Nov 28). "Detailed plans will be revealed later after the authorities officially allow foreigner participation on the Yangon Stock Exchange." Myanmar is trying to expand a stunted bourse that currently has just five stocks by allowing overseas purchases of domestic equities from 2020. The Philippines' oldest conglomerate Ayala is investing in one of those five - First Myanmar Investment - via an US$82.5 million convertible loan that will become a 20 per cent shareholding when rules permit. The four-year-old Thilawa special economic zone is viewed by some as the largest in Myanmar. Japanese, Thai and Malaysian firms account for the bulk of the factories located there, according to Win Aung..."
Source/publisher: "The Straits Times" (Singapore)
Date of publication: 2019-11-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Investing in Myanmar? Do due diligence
Sub-title: The Tatmadaw has a long reach into commercial interests. Companies accountable to a growing range of stakeholders need to assess their exposure to the military.
Description: "RISK and opportunity have always accompanied investors in Myanmar. The recent initiatives by both the United Nations (UN) and the US to ensure that foreign direct investment (FDI) only enriches civilian enterprises and not Myanmar's powerful military-backed entities make it imperative for foreign investors keen on operating in Myanmar to be very sure about the background and military links of their partners. In August this year, the UN's Independent International Fact Finding Mission on Myanmar released an 111-page report outlining how companies affiliated with the Tatmadaw (Myanmar's armed forces) have supported "extensive and systematic human-rights violations against civilians in the Kachin, Shan and Rakhine states." The UN report urged companies to stop doing business with firms linked to the military, in particular the Myanmar Economic Corporation (MEC) and the Union of Myanmar Economic Holdings Ltd (UMEHL). Primarily owned by the Ministry of Defence, MEC and UMEHL between them control businesses that range from golf resorts and sugar mills to telecommunications, breweries and gemstones..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Business Times" (Singapore)
Date of publication: 2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Multinationals pry open Myanmar’s insurance market
Sub-title: UK Prudential, US Chubb, AIA and others granted licenses to tap previously state monopolized sector
Description: "Myanmar has injected new life into its laggard insurance industry with today’s (November 28) issuance of licenses to a handful of foreign companies, including UK Prudential, Japan’s Dai-ichi Life, Hong Kong’s AIA, US Chubb and Canadian Manulife. The Ministry of Finance authorized the widely anticipated but long delayed move to allow foreign insurers to operate in the local market as 100% wholly owned subsidiaries. It also provided for local-foreign joint ventures, with six life and non-life insurance licenses approved for Japan’s Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, Taiyo Life and Nippon Life. The announcement marks a significant step towards financial sector liberalization, allowing foreigners access to one of the last largely untapped insurance markets in the world. The move follows on other market-opening measures granted to the education, retail and wholesale sectors under the current administration..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Asia Times" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication: 2019-11-28
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-28
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar earns over 2 bln USD from export in FY 2019-20
Description: "Myanmar earned over 2.28 billion U.S. dollars from export to foreign countries as of Nov. 15 in fiscal year (FY) 2019-2020 which started in October, according to figures from the Commerce Ministry on Wednesday. Myanmar mainly exports agricultural products, animal products, marine products, minerals, forest products, manufacturing goods and others to foreign trade partner countries. From Oct. 1 to Nov. 15, manufacturing goods were mainly exported, earning 1.12 billion U.S. dollars' capital, following by minerals with 526.8 million U.S. dollars. This FY's total export increased by over 568.9 million U.S. dollars, compared to the same period of last FY 2018-2019 when it was 1.7 billion U.S. dollars. Meanwhile, the country's total foreign trade reached over 4.59 billion U.S. dollars as of Nov. 15 this FY, with 2.3 billion U.S. dollars' import value..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-11-27
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: China’s Belt and Road Gets a Reboot to Boost Its Image
Description: "Sign up for Next China, a weekly email on where the nation stands now and where it’s going next. By many measures, China’s Belt and Road Initiative has been a monumental success. Since 2013, when China launched the effort to expand trade links, more than 130 countries have signed deals or expressed interest. The World Bank estimates some $575 billion worth of energy plants, railways, roads, ports and other projects have been built or are in the works. But President Xi Jinping’s signature effort has also come in for criticism, including accusations that China is luring poor countries into debt traps for its own political and strategic gain. The mixed reviews abroad and worries at home about the cost have led China into something of a reboot as it tries to increase transparency, improve project quality and reduce financial risks..."
Source/publisher: "Bloomberg News" (USA) via Washington Post" (USA)
Date of publication: 2019-10-31
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-22
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: The ASEAN-Hong Kong China Free Trade Agreement and Vietnam
Description: "The ASEAN-Hong Kong, China Free Trade Agreement (AHKFTA) came into effect on June 11 for Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar, Singapore, and Thailand. The remaining ASEAN member states will complete the ratification process later this year. The deal was first signed and agreed in November 2017 to increase economic cooperation, reduce taxes, and increase investment between regional markets and Hong Kong. Analysts have noted that with ongoing trade tensions, Hong Kong businesses are keen to expand investment opportunities in Southeast Asia, and particularly in Vietnam. At the end of 2018, Hong Kong businesses had invested more than 1,300 projects in Vietnam on key sectors such as textiles and garments, real estate and investments. Many expect these numbers to improve following the AHKFTA. Vietnam and Hong Kong trade Vietnam is Hong Kong’s third largest trade partner and biggest export market in ASEAN. In the first five months of this year, Hong Kong accounted for 30.4 percent of total FDI investment in Vietnam, equaling US $5.08 billion. Hong Kong’s importance as an entrepôt for trade between mainland China and Vietnam will continue to grow at a much faster pace with the FTA coming into force. Re-exports of goods of ASEAN origin through Hong Kong to China have been growing at an annual average rate of 6.4 percent since 2012..."
Source/publisher: "Vietnam Briefing" (Vietnam)
Date of publication: 2019-06-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Australia-US Relations: Focussed on Balancing China?
Description: "At the annual Australia-US Ministerial meeting (AUSMIN) 2019, US Secretary of Defence, Mike Esper and US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, presented a proposal to use Australia as part of the US’ Asia-Pacific regional defence network against Chinese expansionism. Mike Esper stated that ‘the US would like to place either long-range or cruise missiles’ in Australia. Despite ruling out this notion, Australia’s defence minister, Linda Reynolds, did not completely preclude the deployment of US military hardware, adding, ’The presence of the US and its military forces in this region has been a force for stability for decades, and Australia has consistently welcomed that force and presence.’ Although China remains Australia’s biggest trading partner, the South China Sea issue, along with Beijing’s push for aggressive economic development and acquisition of strategic maritime assets in Southeast Asian countries, have raised concerns about its intentions. Furthermore, the Darwin port acquisition by Chinese SOE, Landbridge Group, back in 2015, fuelled further concerns for the security of both Australian and US naval assets. The US request to use Australian territory as part of its defence network is a response to Beijing’s use of economic development as a weapon to undermine US influence in both South-East Asia (SEA) and the Pacific. In recent years, China has increased its diplomatic efforts in the Pacific Island states by using foreign direct investment (FDI) as a means of winning favours from their governments. Building opulent Chinese-owned casinos in the Northern Marianas is an example of this strategy. China favours the use of casinos to attract Chinese tourists to the islands as a means of boosting the domestic economy. In practice, this often backfires on the island economy and, instead, damages local businesses, which increases dependence on Beijing..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Future Directions International"
Date of publication: 2019-08-07
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Will China and India Soon Be Flying Russia's Su-57 Stealth Jet?
Sub-title: Russia desperately wants to increase its arms exports.
Description: "With the first serially produced Su-57 scheduled for delivery to the Russian Air Force by the end of 2019, aircraft manufacturer Sukhoi unveiled the export variant of Russia’s flagship fifth-generation fighter at the MAKS 2019 air show earlier this summer. In an illustration of the Kremlin’s increasingly proactive advertising approach, Russian President Vladimir Putin made news waves for personally pitching the Su-57E to his Turkish counterpart Recep Erdoğan. But this recent focus on high-profile presidential outings belies years of persistent behind-the-scenes work by Russia’s state arms export agency-- Rosoboronexport-- to line up a surprisingly wide array of potential Su-57 buyers and investors. Here is a current shortlist of all prospective Su-57 importers. Myanmar: The most recent addition to this list, Myanmar’s ambassador to Russia Ko Ko Shein Russia notified Moscow of his government’s interest in importing the Su-57 earlier this month. Myanmar previously signed a contract with Rosoboronexport to replace its aging Soviet MiG-29’s with a fleet of Su-30SM Flankers. Even if it uses objectively more expensive components, the Su-57E could end up costing Myanmar barely more than the Su-30SM; as previously described by The National Interest, the Russian government is willing to “short-sell” the Su-57 in the short term if it plants the seeds of a profitable export platform down the line. Though unsuited for helping Myanmar’s government with their ongoing counterinsurgency efforts, the Su-57E would go far in shoring up Myanmar’s drastic deficiency in air-to-air power..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The National Interest" (USA)
Date of publication: 2019-11-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-20
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: How Chinese enterprise can overcome barriers to ODI
Description: "Chinese enterprises are frequently encountering obstacles as they invest in overseas markets. Foreign direct investment activities are often politicised because they can impact the domestic politics of host countries. Overseas direct investment (ODI) can bring new rules and practices for corporate operation, which can trigger political debates regarding standards of ‘market behaviour’ in host countries. The most direct effect of ODI is changing the income distribution of social groups in the host country. Those with positive views of ODI believe it can significantly increase the demand for labour in the host country and contribute to an improvement in labour conditions. But local owners of capital are likely to encounter rising costs and intensified market competition. Those with a negative view of ODI believe that it can widen labour income gaps and worsen conditions for low-income groups. A pro-labour government may encourage ODI inflows that contribute to improvements in workers’ wellbeing, while a pro-capital government may encourage ODI inflows that will lower labour costs. For these reasons, the type of political obstacles that investors encounter are closely related to issues of redistribution in the host country. Employment security is the biggest political appeal of ODI. ODI enterprises generally have a competitive advantage and offer higher wages and more stable jobs. But ODI inflows may have a negative effect on the employment of low-skilled workers in the recipient industry..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of publication: 2019-11-07
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 39.45 KB (3 pages)
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Title: How the US is losing hearts and minds in Southeast Asia to China
Description: "The 35th Asean Summit has come and gone, and the United States has again lost ground in its struggle with China for the hearts and minds of Southeast Asia. Over the last few years, the decline in US soft power in the region has accelerated, after its withdrawal from the Trans-Pacific Partnership and President Donald Trump’s “America First” policy, which neglects the region’s strategic interests while economically punishing and alienating potential supporters. US soft power has been declining for years, absolutely and relative to China’s influence. In the run-up to the 2017 Asean summit, both the US and China lobbied heavily for their preferences. China wanted no reference to its claims and activities in the South China Sea and the 2016 arbitration ruling against it. It also refused to support any reference to the need for a “legally binding” code of conduct between China and Asean..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of publication: 2019-11-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: The pains of a prolonged US–China trade war
Description: "Reality once again demonstrates that in a trade war surplus countries like China hold a disadvantage against those with deficits such as the United States. But with little to show for its efforts, it is not in the best interests of the United States to fight with China. The best option for both sides is to reach an agreement. US President Donald Trump’s trade war has not achieved its original objectives. First, the US total current account deficits will remain massive this year. The politically sensitive goods trade deficit with China in the first half of 2019 registered US$167 billion. Second, the trade war has failed to impede China’s technological enhancement. Despite the Chinese government and media renouncing the slogan ‘Made in China 2025’, China continued boosting investment and innovation in the strategic industries listed under the initiative. Geo-economic factors are also intensifying downside risks to the US macroeconomic outlook, as shown by the recent economic indicators. But China still has more palpable losses. US tariffs have slowed China’s GDP by an estimated 0.6 per cent. The trade war also affects GDP through indirect channels. It has driven dozens of firms to shift their supply chains from China to ASEAN countries and deterred Chinese investment in the United States. Chinese global investment is decreasing, but investment in the United States has shrunk more significantly from US$24 billion in 2017 to US$9 billion in 2018 and US$3.2 billion in 2019..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of publication: 2019-10-09
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 35.93 KB (4 pages)
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Title: What can we expect from this year’s East Asia Summit?
Description: "As ASEAN leaders descend on Bangkok for the ASEAN Summit, regional leaders such as Shinzo Abe, Moon Jae-in and Scott Morrison are expected to join them for the East Asia Summit (EAS). First held in 2005, the EAS is a meeting of 18 leaders for strategic dialogue and cooperation on key political, security and economic challenges. It brings together the major regional players — China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand and newest members Russia and the United States — to meet with the 10 ASEAN leaders annually on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit. While the G20 and APEC summits receive significant coverage, the EAS barely rates a mention in most media outlets. It is hard to point to a set of concrete initiatives and impact it has delivered. Despite its low profile, the EAS has the potential to be a valuable forum. It is leaders-led. As Nick Bisley points out, the EAS’ leader-level format accurately ‘reflects the reality that, in statecraft, there are some things that only leaders can do’. While there is now also an EAS Foreign Ministers’ Meeting, an Economic Ministers’ Meeting and other ministerial meetings, its main value is the leaders’ meeting. It is inclusive. Hosted by the current ASEAN chair, it provides a voice to a diverse range of countries in the region, not just to those that have set the agenda in the past. The 18 EAS participating countries collectively represent 54 per cent of the world’s population and 58 per cent of global GDP. It has a broad remit. Unlike some other regional forums, the EAS aims to cover political, security and economic challenges facing the region. It has covered many different topics. Last year, EAS leaders discussed the South China Sea, the Korean Peninsula, the situation in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, counterterrorism, regional economic integration, maritime cooperation and connectivity. This year, it is expected that US–China tensions, the South China Sea and the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) trade deal will be high on the agenda. Last year, RCEP participating states expressed their eagerness to sign off on the deal at this year’s summit, though it may still not be finalised in time..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of publication: 2019-11-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-19
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
Format : pdf
Size: 37.92 KB (4 pages)
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Title: Myanmar earns US$1.2 B more from border trade
Description: "Myanmar earned US$1.2 billion more from border trade within nine months of this fiscal year compared with the same period in last fiscal year despite lowered trade t the Muse border trade center, according to statistics from the Ministry of Commerce. Myanmar earned over US$8 billion from border trade within nine months from October 1 to June 28 in 2018-19 FY and it earned over US$6.730 billion from border trade in the same period. The export value was reduced over US$850 million from Muse border trade center within nine month of this fiscal year while the import value rose by over US$68 million from Muse border trade center. Myanmar earned US$3.8 billion from Muse border trade center within nine months of this fiscal year and it is less than over US$780 million compared with the same period in last fiscal year, according to the ministry. However, Myanmar earned over US$1.824 billion more from exports from Nabule/Htikhi border trade center in the same period in this fiscal year and over US$25 million more from imports in the same period, according to the ministry..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-07-08
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Title: Anti-drug chiefs in Mekong region aim to boost cross-border investigation
Description: "Recent clampdowns by China have pushed transnational narcotics networks into the lower Mekong region like Cambodia, Laos, Thailand and Vietnam, flooding the area with methamphetamine that have remained cheap despite record seizures by regional authorities. Amid growing concern that drug syndicates will diversify to fentanyl - a deadly synthetic opioid - ministers and anti-drug officials from Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam met in Bangkok this week to map out a strategy to increase cross-border investigations and operations through border liaison officers..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Straits Times" (Singapore)
Date of publication: 2019-11-15
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar approves 8 more investment projects
Description: " Myanmar has approved eight more projects in five sectors in a latest scrutiny of submitted foreign investment projects, according to the Myanmar Investment Commission on Sunday. The investment projects worth a total of 232.21 million U.S. dollars were granted at Saturday's meeting of the commission in Yangon. These projects are in the sectors of manufacturing, real estate, service, livestock and fishery which will create over 1,700 job opportunities. According to the commission's statistics, by the end of October, Myanmar received the investment mainly from Singapore, China and Thailand in three top sectors with oil and gas accounting for 27.29 percent, power sector 25.77 percent and manufacturing sector 14.04 percent. In October, the commission had given green light to eight investment projects from home and abroad which were worth a total of 384.48 million U.S. dollars. Those projects, scattered in real estate, education service, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, were designed to create 33,279 local employment opportunities..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-11-17
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-17
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Lancang-Mekong countries to launch joint operation against precursor chemicals
Description: "Countries in the Lancang-Mekong Basin, including China, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam, recently announced they would launch a joint operation against precursor chemicals in November. The Lancang-Mekong Integrated Law Enforcement and Security Cooperation Center said officials from the six countries made the announcement in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, which borders Myanmar, Laos and Vietnam. Zheng Baigang, secretary-general of the center, said the joint action aimed at tackling the root causes of drug-related crimes and eradicating such crimes through measures to control the production and transportation of precursor chemicals in the region. Liang Yun, head of the narcotics control bureau of the Ministry of Public Security, said the Golden Triangle region has become a regional and even global synthetic drug manufacturing center, which harms social stability and economic development in the Lancang-Mekong Basin..."
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-10-30
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar approves 8 more local, foreign investment enterprises
Description: "The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) recently approved eight more investment enterprises from home and abroad, according to a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Tuesday. At the meeting held on Monday, the commission gave the green light to local and foreign enterprises with investment capital of 279.88 million U.S. dollars and 156.9 billion kyats (104.6 million U.S. dollars) respectively. The permitted investments are set to flow into the country's real estate, education service, agriculture and manufacturing sectors, creating 33,279 local employment opportunities, the DICA's release said. From fiscal year (FY) 1988-1989 to FY 2018-2019 which ended in September, Myanmar attracted more than 81.8 billion U.S. dollars of investment from 1,837 foreign enterprises. During the period, Singapore, China and Thailand are the three leading investors, and by sector, oil and gas sector attracted most foreign investments, followed by power and manufacturing sectors..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Xinhua" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-10-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar to respond to Gambia lawsuit at ICJ in line with international laws
Description: "The government will take responsive measures against the lawsuit filed by The Gambia against Myanmar at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in accord with the international laws, President Office Spokesperson Zaw Htay said. He replied to the question about the lawsuit during a press conference of the President Office held in Nay Pyi Taw on November 15. He said the government had expected over a month before that Myanmar could face a suit at ICJ. "Myanmar is a signatory to many international conventions. This is the mandate of ICJ. It has its procedures as well. The international laws are related to each other. So we will respond in line with the international laws," Zaw Htay said. Representing the 57-member Organization of Islamic Cooperation, The Gambia filed a lawsuit at the ICJ against Myanmar for allegedly violating its obligations under the Genocide Convention..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-11-16
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-16
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Italy-Based ENI to Begin Exploring for Oil in Myanmar’s Mandalay Region
Description: "ENI, a multinational oil and gas company headquartered in Italy, will explore for oil and gas in eight townships in Mandalay Region, U Tin Win Hlaing, the chairman of the Mandalay regional parliament’s Industry, Energy and Electricity Committee, confirmed to The Irrawaddy. Exploration will be carried out in PSC-K, an onshore oil and gas block encompassing 1.3 million acres (approximately 526,000 hectares) and more than 370 villages in Tatkon, Yamethin, Pyawbwe, Wundwin, Thazi, Myittha, Kyaukse and Singaing townships, he said. ENI Co. explained its exploration plans to the Mandalay regional government and parliament in early November, and plans to hold consultations with local residents later this month. “First, it will conduct geophysical surveys before conducting a feasibility study,” U Hlaing Win said. ENI Co. and local company Myanmar Petroleum Exploration and Production (MPEP) won a tender in 2014 to explore onshore block PSC-K. The Italian company owns 90 percent of the venture, and the local company 10 percent..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-11-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Tourist numbers to Myanmar rise
Sub-title: The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism recently released data showing that from January to September this year, more than 1.3 million foreign tourists visited Myanmar.
Description: "This represents 390,000 more visitors or a 41 percent rise compared to the same period last year The ministry said the increase can be attributed to more visitors coming from Asian countries, such as Japan, South Korea and China, which have been the targets of the government’s “Look-East policy” for tourism. Tourists from China, Japan and South Korea have increased significantly since the government relaxed visa requirements for travellers from those countries in October last year, say tourism stakeholders. Currently, visas on arrival are available for more than 50 countries at Myanmar’s international airports in Yangon, Mandalay, and Nay Pyi Taw. The visas allow stays in Myanmar of up to 28 days. On October 1, the government also extended visas on arrival to visitors from Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy, Switzerland and Australia, as part of efforts to attract more travellers from western countries. However, some travel and tour agencies say they have not seen western arrivals to match those in the past. Industry stakeholders and experts say the government has to do much more to woo western tourists and boost the country’s sluggish tourism industry. U Than Naing, a Mandalay-based tour operator, lamented that tour season had already started when the easing of visa requirements for the six western countries took effect..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-11-14
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-14
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar government urged to scrap colonial-era law on gay sex
Sub-title: Myanmar one of more than 40 countries where laws introduced by British entrench discrimination against LGBT people.
Description: " Khin Maung Htun, a gay man in Myanmar, was standing on the street one night last year scrolling through his phone when police showed up to arrest some men who had been fighting nearby. The brawl had nothing to do with him; he had not even realised it was going on. But one of the police officers happened to know some acquaintances of his and recognised his face. "He is gay," the officer told his colleagues as he pointed at Khin Maung Htun, "so arrest him too." More: Singapore court to hear cases seeking to decriminalise gay sex... Charges in Mongolia LGBT attack hint at changing attitudes...Gay fathers get less paid parental leave than other couples... At the police station, he was made to kneel down with the other men as police kicked them. Then he was singled out by an officer who demanded to know why he was gay, before slapping him....."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of publication: 2019-11-13
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-13
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Title: Dawei SEZ draws investor interest, but lacks infrastructure
Sub-title: Businesses from China, Thailand, Korea and Japan, including those from the power and logistics sectors, have said they are keen to invest in the Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tanintharyi, which is near the Thai border.
Description: "Investor interest in Dawei, which has yet to be developed, has been on the rise since Myanmar and Thailand agreed to speed up development of the SEZ during the 9th Myanmar – Thailand Joint Coordinating Committee meeting last month. “Power companies from China, steel firms from Thailand and logistics firms from South Korea have said they want to make site visits as they are interested to invest,” said U Myint San, vice chair of Dawei SEZ Management Committee. Although official invitations have yet to be sent out, China’s V Power, which will import liquefied natural gas (LNG) into the country next year, has voiced interest in the SEZ, as has China National Technical Import and Export Corp (CNTIC), which is also interested in selling LNG to Myanmar and its neighbours. “CNTIC has had discussions with the government on supplying LNG which can be converted into energy due to the electricity shortage in Myanmar. They plan to transport the LNG to Myanmar using gas tankers and set up base in Dawei SEZ,” U Myint San said. The other Chinese energy and power firms are Power China International Group, China Tianchen Engineering Corporation and TBEA Xi’an Electric Technology Co. Korean logistics firm Hyundai Glovis is keen to offer logistics and transportation services to the SEZ, linking it to Bangkok via land and to Thilawa SEZ in Yangon via and land and sea, it said. Meanwhile, Thai firms are interested in steel production at the SEZ. “Given that steel requirements in both Thailand and Myanmar are high, they want to build steel mills in Myanmar,” said U Myint San..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-11-06
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-06
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Title: ASEAN nations pledge to sign mega trade deal RCEP in 2020
Description: "The 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) were ready to sign in 2020 a mega trade deal, which if executed, would create the world's largest trading bloc, Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha announced on Monday. The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), which has been primarily driven by China and would bring together almost a third of the global GDP, includes Australia, South Korea, Japan, India, New Zealand and the 10 ASEAN members Myanmar Brunei, Cambodia, Philippines, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam, reports Efe news. In his opening remarks at a meeting between the regional bloc and China, South Korea and Japan within the framework of the ongoing ASEAN summit here, Prayuth announced that ASEAN members have concluded their negotiations and were ready to sign the treaty next year. The RCEP negotiations were formally initiated at the 2012 ASEAN summit in Cambodia. It covers a population of 3.4 billion people, 47 per cent of the world's population, and involves a GDP worth $22.6 trillion (32.2 per cent of the world's GDP)..."
Source/publisher: "Yahoo News"
Date of publication: 2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Giants vie for influence in Myanmar
Description: "Behind the scenes of this year's Asean and East Asian summits, currently taking place in Bangkok, the region's key nations -- China, India and Japan -- are engaged in a quiet battle for greater influence in Myanmar. While on the sidelines, the countries of Asean, especially Thailand, as the current chair of the regional organisation, are offering qualified support for its problematic ally, largely behind the scenes. The fact that the State Counsellor, Aung San Suu Kyi, is here is a measure of how important she and the Myanmar government regard their relations with the region and its top powers. In the face of growing Western criticism, Myanmar is anxious to secure greater support from its Asian "friends". Sources close to "the Lady", as she is affectionately known in the country, say she feels bitterly betrayed by the United Kingdom and United States. Last year she told a close confidante that Myanmar only had two friends it could really trust -- China and Japan, and to a lesser degree India. Asean's support, though less significant than the big three "neighbours", was taken for granted, according to diplomatic sources..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Medic from Myanmar killed in shelling in Syria's northeast
Sub-title: American founder of the Free Burma Rangers blame the Free Syrian Army and Turkish troops for deadly shelling.
Description: "Shelling by Turkey-backed opposition fighters killed a medic from Myanmar and wounded another Iraqi member of the humanitarian team on Sunday in northeastern Syria, where fighting between Kurdish fighters and Turkey-backed gunmen continued, the humanitarian group said. David Eubank, a former member of US Army Special Forces and the founder of the Free Burma Rangers, said in a video that the attack occurred about 4km (three miles) from the northern town of Tal Tamr near the border with Turkey. Eubank said the medic, Zau Seng, was hit in the head by shrapnel from a mortar shell that struck nearby as he was filming a video of the fighting. "He died right away and we brought him here to Tal Tamr," Eubank said in the video, which also showed one of the aid group's armoured vehicles hit by shrapnel..."
Source/publisher: "Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of publication: 2019-11-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Title: World's largest trade deal RCEP faces delay as India pushes back against China
Sub-title: Sixteen-nation Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership will cover half the planet’s people
Description: "The world’s largest trade deal is unlikely to be signed this year, with a draft statement from south-east Asian leaders suggesting it will be delayed until 2020, despite China’s desire to bring it into operation as soon as possible as a counterweight to its debilitating tariff war with the US. The 16-country Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership – known as the RCEP – would be the world’s largest when operational, spanning India to New Zealand, including 30% of global GDP and half of the world’s people. But resistance from India – concerned about a flood of cheap mass-produced Chinese goods hurting small businesses in its economy – appears set to cruel hopes of finalising the pact at the Association of Southeast Asian Nations summit in Bangkok, where members of the 10-nation bloc have been joined by the leaders of powerful observer nations India and China for the East Asia Summit. On a bilateral level, the Chinese premier, Li Keqiang, has met the Australian prime minister, Scott Morrison, on the sidelines of the Bangkok meeting, offering to help get the China-Australia relationship “on the right track”. “We are ready to work with the Australian side to keep our relationship on the right track, deepen our mutual trust, and jointly maintain regional and global peace,” Li told Morrison..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "The Guardian" (UK)
Date of publication: 2019-11-03
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-04
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: ABIS 2019: Public – Private Partnership at the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits
Description: "This year marks a milestone for Thailand as Chairman of ASEAN 2019. The ASEAN Business Advisory Council (ASEAN BAC) has been mandated by ASEAN Leaders to organize the ASEAN BAC meetings and related events, parallel activities, and many key seminars and conferences. More importantly, ASEAN BAC will be organizing the upcoming ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (ABIS) 2019 in conjunction with the 35th ASEAN Summit and Related Summits in Thailand. The ABIS 2019, ASEAN’s premier annual business and investment event, will be held on 2-3 November 2019 at IMPACT Exhibition Center (Hall 6), Muang Thong Thani. This event is jointly organized by the ASEAN BAC, in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Thailand, Ministry of Commerce of Thailand, and the Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry, and Banking (JSCCIB) which comprises the Board of Trade of Thailand, the Federation of Thai Industries, and the Thai Banker’s Association. The event is expected to attract over 1,000 participants worldwide..."
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-11-01
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Asean leaders meet under US-China trade war cloud
Sub-title: US delegation downgrade signals revised role, Modi defends India's hard line on RCEP
Description: "Southeast Asian countries must stick together in the face of a trade war started by US President Donald Trump, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad said on Saturday at the start of a regional summit held in the shadow of US-China tensions. But as Asean leaders met in Bangkok on Saturday, there was no sign they had yet finalised a planned trade deal backed by China that could create the world’s biggest free trade area. “Asean is quite a big market for the whole world. We don’t want to go into a trade war,” Dr Mahathir told a business summit on the sidelines of the main meeting. “But sometimes when they’re unnice to us, we have to be unnice to them.” He described campaigns against exports of palm oil from Malaysia and Indonesia over concerns regarding labour and the environment as “sabotage”. “If you cut back some imports of palm oil from Malaysia, we can cut back our imports from them,” he said..."
Source/publisher: "Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of publication: 2019-11-02
Date of entry/update: 2019-11-03
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar thanks Japan for its stance on draft solution of EU and OIC
Description: "Myint Thu, Myanmar ambassador to Japan, expressed thanks for Japan’s stance of voting on the draft resolution on “Situation of Human Rights of Rohingya Muslims and other minorities in Myanmar” tabled by the European Union (EU) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on 26 September 2019 at the 42nd Regular Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva, during his meeting with Mr. Wakamiya Kenji, Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs of Japan at the latter’s office on September 30. The draft resolution tabled by the EU and the OIC was put to a vote at the 47-member Human Rights Council held in Geneva where seven countries including Japan did not support the resolution and abstained in the voting. At the session of the United Nation Human Rights Council, the representative of Japan felt disappointed at the insufficient time for scrutinizing the draft resolution. Transparency is needed in the draft resolution. Japan’s recommendations have not been found in the draft resolution. Therefore, Japan did not support the draft resolution and abstained in the voting, according to the report of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on September 27..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of publication: 2019-10-04
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-29
Grouping: Individual Documents
Language:
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Title: Village chiefs from ASEAN countries study China’s poverty reduction efforts
Description: "When Min Hlaing Oo first set foot in Hebian village, Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, the thing that impressed him most was its tidiness. After staying in the village for several days, Oo, who is also a village head in Myanmar, was totally enchanted by the way it was organized. "I wish my village could be the same as this village," he told the Global Times. Oo is one of the dozens of grass-roots officials from ASEAN countries who visited Hebian village this May to learn about China's experiences in poverty alleviation, as well as share their countries' knowledge in combating poverty at the village level. "What China has done in its poverty reduction work cannot be completely copied by other ASEAN countries, but it's useful for them as a reference, as most ASEAN countries are still agricultural societies. Besides, China's rapid urbanization and industrialization also serve as a useful lesson for these ASEAN countries," Li Xiaoyun, a professor at the China Agricultural University, told the Global Times. Since 2012, China has made tremendous achievements in reducing poverty in its rural areas. In the past six years, the country has lifted 82.39 million rural poor out of poverty, with their numbers going from 98.99 million in 2012 down to 16.6 million in 2018, Xinhua reported..."
Creator/author:
Source/publisher: "Global Times" (China)
Date of publication: 2019-05-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-27
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Rohingya crisis: Iran to mount pressure on Myanmar
Sub-title: Iran would continue their support to Bangladesh on Rohingya issue, says President Rouhani
Description: "Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has said his country will work to mount pressure on Myanmar from international side to resolve the Rohingya crisis. “We will work to create international pressure on Myanmar (to resolve the Rohingya crisis),” he said during a meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at the bilateral booth of Baku Congress Center where the NAM Summit is taking place. Foreign Secretary Shahidul Haque on Friday briefed reporters that the Iranian leader said they would continue their support to Bangladesh on Rohingya issue, reports UNB. Thanking Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina for sheltering Rohingyas, he said, Bangladesh and Iran have a cordial, cultural and historical relation. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina thanked the Iranian President for his country's support to Bangladesh on Rohingya issue. She emphasized united efforts of Islamic Ummah. “The Islamic Ummah should resolve their internal conflicts internally. If they can do this, then the Islamic Ummah can emerge as a big power in the world,” she said..."
Source/publisher: "Dhaka Tribune" (Bangladesh)
Date of publication: 2019-10-25
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-26
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Why Foreign Policy Matters to Myanmar’s Democratic Transition
Sub-title: In the best-case scenario, Myanmar would be rich like the East and democratic like the West.
Description: "Global media coverage has not been easy on Myanmar. The refugee crisis in northwestern Rakhine sparked a firestorm of international criticism that has only been intensified by allegations of ethnic cleansing. A barrage of punitive actions followed, though most were targeted at the Tatmadaw, the Myanmar military, and have not yet resulted in drastic, direct impact on the population at large. Still, serious contemplation was given to imposing broader economic restrictions, in particular the withdrawal of general scheme of preferences benefits by the European Union (EU). Myanmar’s tarnished images also brought about a decline in tourist arrivals, notably from Western countries. Foreign investors, fearing economic sanctions and reputational risk, have hesitated to bring in more capital. Coupled with public dissatisfaction over the pace of economic reforms and a period of exchange rate volatility, the country’s growth forecast has decreased to 6.2 percent in the 2018/2019 fiscal year, from the 6.8 percent growth experienced in the 2017/2018 fiscal year..."
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Source/publisher: "The Diplomat" (Japan)
Date of publication: 2019-10-22
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-25
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: China shores up projects in Nepal, Myanmar under Belt and Road
Sub-title: The naming of the bilateral projects with Nepal coincided with Beijing dropping the BCIM or the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Corridor from the BRI projects’ list.
Description: "China is shoring-up its connectivity projects with Nepal and Myanmar, including a trans-Himalayan network, a cross-border railway venture and an economic corridor under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Nepal-China Trans-Himalayan Multi-dimensional Connectivity Network, including the Nepal-China cross-border railway, have been named under the list of projects under the BRI. The naming of the bilateral projects with Nepal coincided with Beijing dropping the BCIM or the Bangladesh, China, India and Myanmar Corridor from the BRI projects’ list. Instead, China has now named the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor under the BRI, an indication that Beijing will go ahead with infrastructure projects in south Asia bilaterally. Simultaneously, visiting Nepalese President Bidhya Devi Bhandari said in Beijing that the BRI is offering new opportunities for Nepal and she hopes Chinese investors and enterprises can invest more in Nepal..."
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Source/publisher: "Hindustan Times " (India)
Date of publication: 2019-04-29
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-24
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar: The Assimilation Wars
Description: "Despite two years of effort fewer than a thousand of the million ethnic Rohingya Burmese pushed into neighboring Bangladesh have returned. This has caused a diplomatic problem but otherwise is ignored by most Burmese. No compromise seems possible and with a powerful ally like China (and its UN vet0 and economic clout) to block major UN action Burma can afford to just let the situation simmer and concentrate on the other ethnic problems it must cope with. All this is the result of how the modern state of Burma was created after World War II. That process was messy and it was in part become no one had done it before. This was all about the relentless spread of nationalism over the last few centuries. This eventually became a European effort to ensure that everyone belonged to some kind of nation. Before that large portions of the world were inhabited by humans but there was no local government or ownership. By the 20 th century that was no longer acceptable, at least to the European nations that had taken, or simply assumed control over the many remaining blank spaces where there was no government that owned or controlled an area. Bringing education, modern medicine and the industrial revolution to these areas proved to be more expensive than anticipated. Then there were a lot of locals who become more aware of nationhood and demanded it for themselves. So between the late 1940s and 1960s most of the colonial areas were turned into sovereign states..."
Source/publisher: "StrategyPage"
Date of publication: 2019-10-21
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-21
Grouping: Individual Documents
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Title: Myanmar: The Beginning of Reforms and the End of Sanctions
Sub-title: On 23 April 2012, the European Union (EU) suspended its sanctions against Burma/Myanmar in response to a series of domestic political reforms that have been enacted since Thein Sein became the new president in March 2011.
Description: "Since March 2011, Burma/Myanmar has witnessed a liberalization of the press, the release of political prisoners and the initiation of a political dialogue between the regime on the one hand and the opposition and ethnic groups on the other. The reforms culminated in by-elections on 1 April 2012, which in turn resulted in a landslide victory for Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD). Overall, political reforms in Burma/Myanmar are being initiated from “above.” They are elite-driven and stem from the president and progressive members of the military-dominated party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP). Political reforms in Myanmar are a regime reaction to both internal and external factors. Internally, the military felt secure enough to embark on the slow liberalization of the political system. Externally, the growing economic presence of China seems to have worried the generals..."
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Source/publisher: "GIGA Institute of Asian Studies" (Germany)
Date of publication: 2012-04-23
Date of entry/update: 2019-10-18
Grouping: Individual Documents
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