Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Individual Documents
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..."
Source/publisher:
"Future Directions International"
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-21
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with China, China-Burma-US relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"The National Interest" (USA)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-20
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, China-Burma-India relations, Russia-Burma relations
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-19
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Economy and social justice (global), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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"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..."
Source/publisher:
"South China Morning Post" (Hong Kong)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-19
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with ASEAN, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, ASEAN-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-19
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Economy and social justice (global)
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Format :
pdf
Size:
35.93 KB (4 pages)
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"East Asia Forum" (Australia)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-19
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with ASEAN, ASEAN-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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pdf
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37.92 KB (4 pages)
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-18
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Border Trade - general, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"The Straits Times" (Singapore)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-17
[field_licence]
Type:
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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 entry/update:
2019-11-17
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Chinese investment, Singaporean investment, Burma's economic relations with Thailand, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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 entry/update:
2019-11-16
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, ASEAN-Burma relations, The impact of climate change on the global environment
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-16
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma's economic relations with the region, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-16
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory, Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first), Rule of Law - global and regional, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy" (Thailand)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-14
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Government of Myanmar (oil and gas), Natural Resource Use: global and regional, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Renewable energy Myanmar
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-14
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Tourism in Burma - articles and studies, Sustainable/ethical/responsible tourism (Burma/Myanmar), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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....."
Source/publisher:
"Al Jazeera" (Qatar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-13
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-06
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Dawei (Tavoy) Special Economic Zone, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with Thailand, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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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 entry/update:
2019-11-04
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
ASEAN-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Burma's economic relations with ASEAN
Language:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-04
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma's economic relations with ASEAN, China-Burma-India relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, ASEAN-Burma relations
Language:
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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 entry/update:
2019-11-04
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory
Language:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"The Guardian" (UK)
Date of entry/update:
2019-11-04
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
ASEAN-Burma relations, India-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy
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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 entry/update:
2019-11-03
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
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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 entry/update:
2019-11-03
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
ASEAN-Burma relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy
Language:
Local URL:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-29
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Japan-Burma relations, European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Global Times" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-27
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Local URL:
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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 entry/update:
2019-10-26
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first), Discrimination against the Rohingya, Burmese refugees in Bangladesh, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"The Diplomat" (Japan)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-25
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, “One Belt, One Road” initiative
Language:
Local URL:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"Hindustan Times " (India)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-24
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Burma's economic relations with China, Chinese investment, Other Special Economic Zones, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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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 entry/update:
2019-10-21
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Arakan (Rakhine) State - reports etc. by date (latest first), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Internal displacement/forced migration of Rohingyas
Language:
Local URL:
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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..."
Source/publisher:
"GIGA Institute of Asian Studies" (Germany)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-18
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
European Union-Burma relations (commentary/analysis), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Politics and Government - global and regional - general studies, strategies, theory
Language:
Format :
pdf
Size:
313.43 KB
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Description:
"Nepal and Myanmar inked a memorandum of understanding(MoU) on cooperation in tourism and culture for strengthening relationship in this field following bilateral talks held today in the presence of President Bidya Devi Bhandari and State Counselor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi.
President Bhandari is currently on a five-day state visit to the Republic of Union of Myanmar at the friendly invitation of the President of Myanmar U Win Myint.
Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali and Union Minister for International Cooperation of Myanmar, Mr Kyaw Tin, signed and exchanged the two MoUs after the bilateral talks held at the Presidential House in Nay Pyi Taw, the capital of Myanmar.
President Bhandari arrived in Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday evening and held talks with her Myanmar counterpart U Win Myint at the Presidential House today.
Earlier, Myanmar Army presented a Guard of Honour to President Bhandari..."
Source/publisher:
"The Himalayan Times" (Nepal)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-17
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Tourism - descriptive/analytical, critical - global, Society and Culture, global - general studies
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"A ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Myanmar and Italy to cooperate in the water management in the farming sector and development of mechanized farming, was held in Nay Pyi Taw on August 2, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation.
Under the MoU, Italy will provide technical assistance for the establishment of irrigation technical center at the Shwehlanbo river water pumping and underground water training school in Sintkai Township in Mandalay Region for the development of dam irrigation technology and the mechanized farming technology center at No.61 mechanized farming camp in Wetlet Township in Sagaing Region for development of mechanized farming system, for three years.
The MoU was signed by Deputy Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation Hla Kyaw and Italian Ambassador to Myanmar Mrs. Alessandra Schiavo.
In addition, the ministry is discussing a plan to promote technical cooperation for development of farming sector between Myanmar and India. Both sides discussed the utilization of technologies and opening of animal health and management courses according to the MoU between Myanmar and India, for development Rakhine State..."
Source/publisher:
"Eleven Media Group" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-13
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Water resources of Burma/Myanmar, Agriculture in Burma/Myanmar: general and research, Sustainable agriculture - Burma/Myanmar, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
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Summary:
"This year has been rough for the 70 million people who call the Mekong River basin home: a severe drought rocked the region for months before yielding to deadly flooding.
The Mekong slowed to...
Sub-title:
As droughts and flooding in the Mekong River basin become harsher and more frequent due to the effects of climate change, coal and hydropower may no longer be viable development paths for the region.
Description:
"This year has been rough for the 70 million people who call the Mekong River basin home: a severe drought rocked the region for months before yielding to deadly flooding.
The Mekong slowed to its lowest level in recorded history, knocking the world’s largest freshwater fishery—Cambodia’s Tonle Sap Lake—out of balance. The drought hurt the region’s fishing and farming communities, threatening its food supply. When the rain came, flooding reportedly displaced at least 100,000 people in Laos alone.
Mainland Southeast Asia is among the most vulnerable regions in the world to the impacts of climate change: according to one Global Climate Risk Index, Myanmar and Vietnam are in the top 10 most vulnerable countries. Cambodia and Thailand are in the top 20.
Despite its vulnerabilities, the governments of the lower Mekong are still pushing development plans centred on unsustainable hydropower dams and coal. Dams across the Mekong basin and coal power plants will ostensibly provide much-needed electricity and income, but the impacts of climate change on water resources are throwing all of this into question..."
Source/publisher:
"ASEAN Today" (Singapore)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-12
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Climate Change - Migration Global, The impact of climate change on the global environment, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
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Description:
"As Myanmar continues to open to foreign investment, employers from other ASEAN countries and places farther afield have been setting up local operations. Understanding the requirements of Myanmar labour law is, of course, a crucial part of this.
By staying in compliance with the country’s regulations on working conditions, leave and holiday entitlements, and other labour regulations, entrepreneurs can increase their likelihood of business success in Myanmar...Working hours and pay.....
For shops, companies, trading centres, service enterprises, and entertainment houses, normal working hours are set by the Shop and Establishment Law 2016 at eight hours per day, or a maximum of 48 hours per week. Employees are entitled to at least one day off with pay per week, and the default weekly rest day is Sunday. Overtime working hours must not exceed 12 hours per week, or 16 hours in extraordinarily pressing circumstances. The prescribed minimum rest is at least 30 minutes after four hours of work. Under current practices of the Ministry of Labour, overtime pay must be calculated at double the employee’s basic wage..."
Source/publisher:
"Bangkok Post" (Thailand)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-08
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Labour issues in Burma, International labour standards and mechanisms, Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"José Angel Portal, head of the Cuban Ministry of Public Health (MINSAP), received Kyaw Tint Swe, Union Minister for the Office of the State Counsellor and special envoy of the Government of Myanmar, along with the delegation that accompanies him.
As reported by MINSAP official website, Swe is in Cuba to make the official announcement of the opening of the diplomatic mission of his country in Havana, and in this context he is interested in establishing bilateral cooperation relations in the health sector between the two nations.
Portal commented on the possibility of developing cooperation in the areas of health and academic services, and the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry.
Meanwhile, the special envoy affirmed that his country has “much to learn from the Cuban experience” and described the Cuban health system as one of the best in the world, so he is convinced that cooperation between both nations will be beneficial..."
Source/publisher:
"Radio Rebelde" (Cuba)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-07
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"The Ambassador of Italy, Ms Alessandra Schiavo, has just signed in Nay Pyi Taw, together with the Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Hla Kyaw, two MoUs between the above mentioned Myanmar Ministry and the Italian Ministry for Economic Development, in the fields of Irrigation and Agricultural Mechanization.
Both Agreements signed 2 August will aim at jointly setting up two Technological Centres (one in the Sagaing Region, and the other in the Mandalay Region), to improve the quality of local training, accelerate the development of agricultural mechanization in Myanmar thanks to the acknowledged technological Italian know-how, demonstrate and spread the benefits of adopting new technologies, processes and managerial skills.
The Italian side will entrust the Italian Trade Agency, together with the industrial Associations ANIMA and Federunacoma, which collectively comprise almost 3.500 Italian companies, with a turnover respectively of 48,5 and 11 billion Euros in 2018, and have developed some of the most advanced technologies in the whole world.
“With the signing of these two Memoranda of Understanding, Italy demonstrates its will to support Myanmar in its efforts to move from subsistence farming to market-oriented and export-oriented farming. We wish to promote the awareness of modern farming techniques, in order to improve both the quantity of the harvest and the crop quality, and to reduce the dependence on the seasonal nature of the produce supply..."
Source/publisher:
"Mizzima" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-07
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Irrigation, Sustainable agriculture - global and regional, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"A loan of 100 million U.S. dollars from the World Bank International Development Association (IDA) is being sought in Myanmar's Union Parliament, parliament sources said Wednesday.
The loan is meant for the Ministry of Education to conduct inclusive access and quality education program and will be carried out in 115 townships, Minister of Education Myo Thein Gyi told the parliament on Tuesday.
He clarified that the aim of the loan is for all students in the basic education schools to have access to learning opportunities for out-of-school school-age youngsters and to strengthen financial and management ability.
The world bank loan represents part of the program's total value of 180 million U.S. dollars, while 70 million dollars was a grant from Global Partner for Education and 10 million dollars was a grant from the European Union, he said.
As part of the efforts to reduce drop-outs from schools, the out-of-school quality education will be provided to 77,000 out-of-school school-age youngsters under the four-year program, he added..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-07
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Foreign Debt, Human Development, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, Sustainable/alternative development in and for Burma
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"Over 4.15 billion U.S. dollars of investment capital from the permitted foreign enterprises entered Myanmar in the fiscal year 2018-2019 which ended in September, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Saturday.
From Oct. 1, 2018 to Sept. 30 this year, 282 foreign enterprises were approved by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).
During the period, the transport and communication sector topped the list with over 1.53 billion U.S. dollars, followed by manufacturing sector with over 1.34 billion U.S. dollars and other services with 650 million U.S. dollars.
The figures dropped by over 1.5 billion U.S. dollars, compared to the FY 2017-2018 when Myanmar attracted over 5.7 billion U.S. dollars of foreign investment..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-10-05
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) Friday approved six more investment projects from home and abroad, said a release from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
Investment capital of over 143.9 million U.S. dollars and 2 billion kyats (1.8 million U.S. dollars) from the permitted projects entered the country's livestock, manufacturing, hotel and tourism, other services and mining sectors.
The projects will create 1,083 employment opportunities for local people, the DICA's release said.
Meanwhile, 1,806 foreign enterprises with over 81.59 billion U.S. dollars were permitted by the MIC from the fiscal year 1988-1989 to present fiscal year 2018-2019.
During the period, oil and gas, power and manufacturing sectors are in the top-three list with most foreign investments and Singapore, China and Thailand are the leading investors.
Regionally, the Yangon region attracted 60 percent of investments from both home and abroad, followed by Mandalay with 30 percent and the rest flowed into other regions and states..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-30
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Chinese investment, Singaporean investment, Political, social and economic dimensions of investment in Burma, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"China extended to Myanmar 7.378 million U.S. dollars’ Lancang-Mekong Cooperation (LMC) Special Fund for the second batch on Wednesday for use in management of projects under the fund.
The agreement on the provision was signed in Nay Pyi Taw between Chinese Ambassador Hong Liang and Myanmar’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by Permanent Secretary U Myint Thu.
The special fund is to be applied by eight Myanmar ministries to implement 19 projects.
Hong Liang said the LMC is a project emerging rapidly in a short duration and is also an effective cooperation in the region..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-28
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, Economy and social justice (global), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Sub-title:
Myanmar’s rice industry can be reignited by reforms. However, key challenges need to be addressed for the country to re-establish itself in the international market.
Description:
"Myanmar once held the distinction of being the world’s largest exporter of rice, accounting for one-third of the global rice trade in 1934-35. However, post-independence nationalisation of the industry resulted in a vicious cycle where low-quality inputs led to low-quality outputs, which soon became uncompetitive in the international market.
Reforms to the sector and the wider economy over the past decade have led to a revival of Myanmar’s rice export industry. With a target set by the Myanmar Rice Federation to achieve four million tonnes in exports by 2020-21, it is vital to build on this momentum by addressing the critical challenges that remain for the industry.
Of the many challenges facing the rice sector in Myanmar, issues of productivity and quality are key.....Productivity along the supply chain:
Low productivity at the farm level contributes to low yields in Myanmar’s rice industry. Many determinants of farm-level productivity relate to inputs, including seed, fertiliser and irrigation.
Since 1977, the Myanmar government has promoted high-yielding varieties (HYVs) of rice seed. However, the performance of HYVs in the country is frequently undermined by factors such as relying on harvested paddy for seed – which leads to seed degeneration over time – improper fertiliser use, insufficient irrigation and lack of drainage facilities..."
Source/publisher:
"Myanmar Times" (Myanmar)
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-27
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"What are trademarks?
Under the new Myanmar Trademark Law 2019, trademarks are defined as any visually perceptible sign that distinguishes the goods or services of one undertaking from those of other undertakings. This includes an individual’s personal name, letters, numerals, graphical representations, and combinations of colors. Nevertheless, it is important to note that not all trademarks are registrable. For example, an application to register trademarks that are deemed to lack distinctiveness, or are directly descriptive of goods or services, will be refused. An application may also be rejected if the trademark is applied for in bad faith, or is identical or confusingly similar to a third party’s trademark.
I have already registered my trademarks in my home country. Why do I need to file new applications in Myanmar?
Trademark rights are territorial in nature. This means that the ownership of a registered trademark in another country will not be sufficient for you to establish grounds for trademark infringement, if your trademark is used by an unauthorized third party in Myanmar. If you are using (or if you are planning to use) your trademark in Myanmar, it is highly recommended for trademark protection to be sought here. You may also wish to consult your trademark agent on the possibility of claiming the priority date of your foreign trademark applications in Myanmar..."
Source/publisher:
"LEXOLOGY"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-25
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Laws, decrees, bills and regulations relating to the judiciary (commentaries), Legislation under consideration, adopted, amended or repealed, Laws and regulations governing investment, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"“In order to facilitate investment, businesses need political stability. And in that sense, Mandalay is the perfect place to offer this condition,” Mandalay Chief Minister Zaw Myint Maung told an audience of European investors and businesses.
The European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham) in collaboration with the Mandalay Region Chamber of Commerce (MRCCI) organised the forum “Business Climate in Upper Myanmar” on May 21.
Many European businesses see Mandalay’s location and access to Upper Myanmar as a key asset but raise concerns about the opaque bureaucracy and shortage of skilled labour.
“Mandalay is at the crossroads between big Asian players, like China and India, and [the city] could become a main trading and communications centre,” said Fabian Lorenz, attorney-at-law, Luther Law Firm Limited.
The availability of raw materials and labour in Mandalay offers a vast potential for development and investment, he added. This includes agriculture, food processing and manufacturing..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-25
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
“One Belt, One Road” initiative, European investment, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, International Relations
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"They may not be the first two countries that come to mind when people think of the Pilbara, but last week Australia’s ambassadors to Myanmar and Kuwait visited the region.
The visits were part of the Australian Government’s Global Heads of Mission Meeting, in which all ofAustralia’s heads of mission headed to Canberra to consider Australia’s response to foreign trade, development policy challenges and opportunities.
They then travelled to locations around regional Australia to help the community understand how the Australian Government’s work overseas delivers benefits to all, and to listen and respond to local perspectives.
Australia’s ambassador to Myanmar Andrea Faulkner visited Karratha and said WA was the State which had the most, in a business sense, to do with her patch.
“There’s real opportunities in Myanmar for the oil and gas sector,” she said
“Woodside is Australia’s biggest investor in Myanmar.
“They’re involved in exploration of LNG on the West coast.”
While in Karratha, Ms Faulkner met with the Murujuga Aboriginal Corportation, Yara Pilbara, Woodside, the City of Karratha, the Pilbara Development Commission, Bush Lolly Cafe, Karratha Senior High School, Yindjibarndi Aboriginal Corporation and Rio Tinto..."
Source/publisher:
The West Australian (Australia) via "Pilbara News"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-23
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Australia-Burma relations, International Relations, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"Myanmar's natural gas export hit 3.5 billion U.S. dollars in the first 11 months (Oct.-Aug.) of the fiscal year 2018-2019 ending September, according to the Ministry of Commerce Wednesday.
The natural gas export during the period increased by 430 million U.S. dollars compared with the corresponding period of the previous fiscal year.
Natural gas represents one of the major export items of Myanmar and over 20 percent of the country's export earning came from the sale of natural gas.
There are several gas fields in Myanmar, of which Yadana and Yetagun were discovered in the early 1990s.
The Yadana natural gas project, located offshore in the Andaman Sea, is being carried out by the TOTAL company of France with its pipeline supplying gas to Thailand so as the Zawtika project in the gulf of Mottama.
The Shwe natural gas field, lying offshore Rakhine state, was found in 2014 and gas from the field was mainly exported to China..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua" (China)
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-18
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Economy: general, analytical, statistical (various sources), Government of Myanmar (oil and gas), Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, International Relations
Language:
Local URL:
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Description:
"Myanmar exported 192,980 tons of rubber worth of 247.56 million U.S. dollars in the first 11 months from October to August of the present fiscal year 2018-19 , exceeding the targeted of 170,000 tons, according to the figures of the Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.
The rubber exports increased by 41,090 tons compared with the same period of the previous year of 2017-18 when it registered 151,890 tons worth 184.36 million U.S. dollars.
There are over 1.63 million acres (660,100 hectares) of rubber plantations across Myanmar and its rubber is mostly exported to China, Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, South Korea, India and Japan.
Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association has called on growers and all stakeholders in the rubber supply chain in the country to make efforts to produce profitable quality rubber to boost the export..."
Source/publisher:
"Xinhua"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-15
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Import/Export, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
Language:
Local URL:
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Summary:
"Since last year, Myanmar officials responsible for drumming up foreign investment have been shuttling between Naypyitaw and Asian countries to pitch the government’s latest legal, procedural, and...
Description:
"Since last year, Myanmar officials responsible for drumming up foreign investment have been shuttling between Naypyitaw and Asian countries to pitch the government’s latest legal, procedural, and institutional reforms to potential investors as part of efforts to revitalize the country’s economy.
State Counselor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi often highlights foreign direct investment (FDI) as a key driver of Myanmar’s economy.
Starting last year, both abroad and at home, Myanmar has held investment and business forums with Japan, South Korea, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Hong Kong and Singapore among Asian countries, and the US, UK, Czech, Hungary and Australia among Western nations.
Between January and September this year, the government organized a Union-level investment summit in Naypyitaw and four major investment forums in Yangon and Mandalay regions, and in Rakhine and Chin states, inviting both local and foreign investors to attend. This is part of the government’s investment promotion plan, which has emphasized East Asian countries since the country’s image took a battering in the wake of the 2017 Rohingya crisis in Rakhine State, which turned off Western investors..."
Source/publisher:
"The Irrawaddy"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-12
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Individual Documents
Category:
Lists, Directories of Foreign Companies in Burma, Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general, International Relations
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"Myanmar's Yangon Region Investment Committee (YRIC) recently permitted 10 more foreign investment businesses for the region, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) on Friday.
A total of 18.986 million US dollars of investments from China, South Korea, Vietnam and the British Virgin Islands entered the region's manufacturing sector, creating about 4,597 local employment opportunities.
Regionally, Yangon region attracts 60 percent of both local and foreign investments, followed by Mandalay with 30 percent and the rest flows into other regions and states.
According to the DICA's figures, Myanmar attracted over 2.41 billion US dollars' foreign investments as of April 30, the first seven months of the present fiscal year 2018-2019.
The new Myanmar Companies Law which started to enforce on Aug. 1 last year allows foreign investors to take up 35 percent in local companies.
Under the new companies law, investment with capital not exceeding 5 million US dollars can be permitted by regional and states authorities of the DICA..."
Source/publisher:
"Global Times" via Xinhua
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-05
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Type:
Individual Documents
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Lists, Directories of Foreign Companies in Burma, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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"Plans for an Economic Zone in Southern Myanmar will be reworked by Japan into an export base to such markets as India, in an attempt to kick start the stalled project as China expands its economic influence in the Southeast Asian Country.
The new proposal for the Dawei Special Economic Zone being developed jointly by Japan, Myanmar and Thailand will prioritise building logistics and port facilities to turn it into a base for shipping and light industry by 2030.
Japan, Thailand and Myanmar signed an agreement on developing Dawei in 2015, with Tokyo investing in the project through the Japan Bank for International Cooperation. The original plan was to focus on heavy industry and chemical manufacturing. But much of the land in the area remains vacant, and the planned port has yet to be built..."
Source/publisher:
"Belt & Road News"
Date of entry/update:
2019-09-04
[field_licence]
Type:
Individual Documents
Category:
Burma/Myanmar's relationship with the Global Economy, Dawei (Tavoy) Special Economic Zone, Other Special Economic Zones, Burma/Myanmar's Foreign relations, general
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"The Myanmar government has lifted a ban on sending women overseas to work in Singapore, Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand after a restriction was imposed in 2014 due to concerns about abuse.
U Peter Nyunt Maung, president of the Myanmar Overseas Employment Agencies Federation, said the government will first send domestic workers to Singapore in a pilot project, and would then allow them to work in three other places – Hong Kong, Macau and Thailand, the Myanmar Times reported.
He said the move would help the government to better oversee the sector as domestic workers had continued to work abroad illegally despite the ban being in place.
“During the ban [imposed by the government], domestic workers went abroad illegally. Making it legal will make it easier to control,” U Peter Nyunt Maung said.
Myanmar barred its citizens from working abroad in 2014 because of concerns that domestic workers were being abused and stuck in slave-like circumstances in countries such as Thailand, Malaysia and elsewhere.
The ministry and the federation will meet to sign a contract with labor placement agencies in Singapore to try to protect Myanmar citizens who go there to do domestic work..."
Source/publisher:
Asia Times
Date of publication:
2019-04-29
Date of entry/update:
2019-05-05
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Type:
Individual Documents
Language:
English
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