The Myanmar Investment Commission has allowed 48 hotels – with a total of 7058 rooms – to open in Myanmar. Foreign investment in these hotels had reached K655 billion by the end of November, according to data from the Ministry of Hotels and Tourism.
In 2011, there were only 36 hotels and business complexes in Myanmar, which had received a collective US$1.1 billion in foreign investment. By September of this year, there were 47 hotels alone and foreign investment had reached $2.6 billion.
Foreign investment into Myanmar’s hotel sector started in 1990 with investments from Hong Kong. Since then, Singapore has invested $1.47 billion, followed by Vietnam with $440 million and Thailand with $343 million. The top three are followed by Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia and the United Kingdom. (Courtesy of MMTimes)
December 22, 2015
Myanmar delegation visits Muslim rebel group
According to the MILF Web site, Luwaran.net, the delegation arrived on Dec. 16 to study and research on the peace process by visiting the Office of Chief of Staff Sammy Al Mansor of the Bangsamoro Islamic Armed Forces, the MILF’s armed wing.
The delegates were a mixed company of government officials and individuals from rebel groups which seek to learn from the MILF’s experience, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Q. Iqbal said in a phone interview.
Myanmar previously had five rebel fronts that formed into a union, which has since signed a ceasefire agreement with the government last October.
“The two shared the experience of the MILF in the peace process and how the negotiation came into being and until the signing of the peace accords, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),” the MILF said in the article posted on its Web site. (Courtesy of bworldonline.com)
The delegates were a mixed company of government officials and individuals from rebel groups which seek to learn from the MILF’s experience, MILF chief negotiator Mohagher Q. Iqbal said in a phone interview.
Myanmar previously had five rebel fronts that formed into a union, which has since signed a ceasefire agreement with the government last October.
“The two shared the experience of the MILF in the peace process and how the negotiation came into being and until the signing of the peace accords, the Framework Agreement on the Bangsamoro (FAB) and the Comprehensive Agreement on the Bangsamoro (CAB),” the MILF said in the article posted on its Web site. (Courtesy of bworldonline.com)
Government denies 'slave' claims in AP report
The government has dismissed a recent report by the Associated Press that Thai authorities turned a blind eye to slave-like labour conditions in the shrimp industry.
During a press briefing at Government House yesterday, a team of government spokesmen and anti-illegal fishing and human trafficking specialists disputed the report, insisting serious efforts have been under way to end labour abuses and requested that the media write fair reports.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd denied the AP report on Dec 13, which alleged that authorities ignored forced labour at shrimp-peeling sheds in Samut Sakhon and that Thailand had become one of the world's leading shrimp-exporters because of low costs resulting from labour abuse. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post: News)
During a press briefing at Government House yesterday, a team of government spokesmen and anti-illegal fishing and human trafficking specialists disputed the report, insisting serious efforts have been under way to end labour abuses and requested that the media write fair reports.
Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd denied the AP report on Dec 13, which alleged that authorities ignored forced labour at shrimp-peeling sheds in Samut Sakhon and that Thailand had become one of the world's leading shrimp-exporters because of low costs resulting from labour abuse. (Courtesy of Bangkok Post: News)
Myanmar man in murder plot set free
A Myanmar national who was alleged to have tried, with three others, to kidnap and kill a countryman was given a discharge not amounting to an acquittal (DNATA) by a district judge yesterday.
Yae Wynnt Oaung, a 33-year-old trader, was set free after being in remand since June 24 for abetting a conspiracy to commit murder.
He was also given a six-week jail term for driving offences, which was backdated to his remand.
Oaung was said to have schemed with Phyo Min Naing, 31; Zaw Min Hlaing, 37; and Kyaw Kyaw Aung alias Aung Aung, 29; to abduct Mr Aye Maung Maung Thet, 29, from a multi-storey car park in Pasir Ris Street 71 on June 20 and take him to a Changi chalet in order to kill him.
Two of the men were alleged to have tasered the victim in the bid to abduct him, but they bolted after his cries for help attracted passers-by. Aung Aung fled the country days later and is still at large. (Courtesy of The Straits Times News)
Yae Wynnt Oaung, a 33-year-old trader, was set free after being in remand since June 24 for abetting a conspiracy to commit murder.
He was also given a six-week jail term for driving offences, which was backdated to his remand.
Oaung was said to have schemed with Phyo Min Naing, 31; Zaw Min Hlaing, 37; and Kyaw Kyaw Aung alias Aung Aung, 29; to abduct Mr Aye Maung Maung Thet, 29, from a multi-storey car park in Pasir Ris Street 71 on June 20 and take him to a Changi chalet in order to kill him.
Two of the men were alleged to have tasered the victim in the bid to abduct him, but they bolted after his cries for help attracted passers-by. Aung Aung fled the country days later and is still at large. (Courtesy of The Straits Times News)
Rampant Child Labor a Challenge for Myanmar
YANGON—
A boy's small hands expertly operate a circular saw in a workshop just outside the central Myanmar city of Mandalay. Although only 13 years old, he has been doing this work for about a year, so says he feels safe working with the machine and its fast-spinning blade.
He can earn about $3 per day with this work, more than the country’s recently introduced minimum wage, and says he is learning skills that will enable him to earn more in the future.
He gives all his earnings to his mother, a poor farmer. His father has left the family and become a Buddhist monk, the boy says.
“My mother asked me to go to work,” he says. “At my home there is no food to eat. That’s why I come to work. The boss is good to me and feeds me.”
This boy's predicament may be shocking, but it is all too common in Myanmar. The country has since 2011 been undergoing a political transformation and is seeing high headline rates of economic growth. But when a new government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy takes power next year, it will inherit a broken education system and dire poverty in many rural areas that are fueling rampant child labor. (Courtesy of VOA)
A boy's small hands expertly operate a circular saw in a workshop just outside the central Myanmar city of Mandalay. Although only 13 years old, he has been doing this work for about a year, so says he feels safe working with the machine and its fast-spinning blade.
He can earn about $3 per day with this work, more than the country’s recently introduced minimum wage, and says he is learning skills that will enable him to earn more in the future.
He gives all his earnings to his mother, a poor farmer. His father has left the family and become a Buddhist monk, the boy says.
“My mother asked me to go to work,” he says. “At my home there is no food to eat. That’s why I come to work. The boss is good to me and feeds me.”
This boy's predicament may be shocking, but it is all too common in Myanmar. The country has since 2011 been undergoing a political transformation and is seeing high headline rates of economic growth. But when a new government led by Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy takes power next year, it will inherit a broken education system and dire poverty in many rural areas that are fueling rampant child labor. (Courtesy of VOA)
Health ministry strives to curb polio outbreak
The health ministry has given out polio vaccines to 360,000 children in 15 townships after two children were diagnosed with a rare vaccine-derived polio virus (VDPV) in April and October in Maungdaw, Rakhine State.
Ten townships in Rakhine State, two in Chin State and one each in Magway, Ayeyawady and Bago regions received the vaccinations.
The ministry first gave polio vaccines to children from December 5 to 7 and will continue the campaign from December 26 to 28 and January 15 to 17. The outbreak of VDPV is thought to have been caused by the low vaccination coverage in the region. In previous years, routine vaccination coverage in Rakhine State has been below 80 per cent. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Ten townships in Rakhine State, two in Chin State and one each in Magway, Ayeyawady and Bago regions received the vaccinations.
The ministry first gave polio vaccines to children from December 5 to 7 and will continue the campaign from December 26 to 28 and January 15 to 17. The outbreak of VDPV is thought to have been caused by the low vaccination coverage in the region. In previous years, routine vaccination coverage in Rakhine State has been below 80 per cent. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Suu Kyi’s Party Won’t Push for Abrupt Economic Changes in Myanmar
YANGON, Myanmar—When it forms Myanmar’s government next month, the National League for Democracy—led by Aung San Suu Kyi—plans to largely continue the economic policies of the outgoing military-backed administration and won't attempt to shutter businesses linked to the former ruling generals.
“We don’t need abrupt changes; we want continuity between our government and the previous one,” said Han Tha Myint, who chairs the NLD’s economic committee, in an interview last week. “We don’t need to turn the present bureaucracy upside down, but at the same time, will find ways to alleviate corruption.”
Before the historic November election, Ms. Suu Kyi frequently criticized the economic policies of President Thein Sein, saying they were insufficient to improve the lives of the poverty-stricken majority. (Courtesy of WSJ)
“We don’t need abrupt changes; we want continuity between our government and the previous one,” said Han Tha Myint, who chairs the NLD’s economic committee, in an interview last week. “We don’t need to turn the present bureaucracy upside down, but at the same time, will find ways to alleviate corruption.”
Before the historic November election, Ms. Suu Kyi frequently criticized the economic policies of President Thein Sein, saying they were insufficient to improve the lives of the poverty-stricken majority. (Courtesy of WSJ)
UNA leaders’ meeting scheduled for end of December
The leaders of the United Nationalities Alliance (UNA) will convene at the end of this month for the first time following the 2015 general election.
The decision came after the UNA representatives’ meeting in Yangon on December 19.
“We saw a full complement of attendances, even though the meeting was aimed at the secretaries. Almost all UNA members attended the meeting. We agreed to hold the UNA leaders’ meeting in Yangon at the end of this month,” said Aye Tha Aung of the Arakan National Party (ANP), who is one of the leaders of the UNA.
The UNA was formed by the political parties that won the 1990 general election. The organisation’s first conference was held in December 2002. The conference of the UNA and its allied organisations has been held three times.
“The leaders’ meeting of the UNA will take a review of attitudes and stances within the UNA, prepare to reorganise the UNA to further strength it and assess the role of the ethnic armed organisations in the peace process. Three representatives each, including the leaders of UNA member groups, are allowed to attend the UNA leaders’ meeting. We will try together with the ethnic political parties to seek a path to peace and establish federal Union,” Aye Tha Aung said. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
The decision came after the UNA representatives’ meeting in Yangon on December 19.
“We saw a full complement of attendances, even though the meeting was aimed at the secretaries. Almost all UNA members attended the meeting. We agreed to hold the UNA leaders’ meeting in Yangon at the end of this month,” said Aye Tha Aung of the Arakan National Party (ANP), who is one of the leaders of the UNA.
The UNA was formed by the political parties that won the 1990 general election. The organisation’s first conference was held in December 2002. The conference of the UNA and its allied organisations has been held three times.
“The leaders’ meeting of the UNA will take a review of attitudes and stances within the UNA, prepare to reorganise the UNA to further strength it and assess the role of the ethnic armed organisations in the peace process. Three representatives each, including the leaders of UNA member groups, are allowed to attend the UNA leaders’ meeting. We will try together with the ethnic political parties to seek a path to peace and establish federal Union,” Aye Tha Aung said. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Refugees pressured to leave camps
Refugees have reported being pressured by a certain charity group to leave their camps and return to their homes.
Refugees belonging to the Palaung, Lisu and Lishaw ethnic groups have been unable to return to their homes but have been under pressure by the charity group to leave Monghsu, where they are currently lodging.
“It seems like since they are Shan people from Nantkhone. They want to drive other groups out. They say in the Shan language: ‘Why are you not leaving yet? What else do you want?’ The places that the Shan people returned to are not danger zones. Regions such as Nant Par Mone, home to some of those ethnic minority refugees, are completely occupied by Bama (Myanma) soldiers. This means they are being pressured to go back to a place with both the military and the Shan armed groups, where a battle can start anytime. Both sides are still very tense,” said refugee Kyaw Kyaw Oo. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Refugees belonging to the Palaung, Lisu and Lishaw ethnic groups have been unable to return to their homes but have been under pressure by the charity group to leave Monghsu, where they are currently lodging.
“It seems like since they are Shan people from Nantkhone. They want to drive other groups out. They say in the Shan language: ‘Why are you not leaving yet? What else do you want?’ The places that the Shan people returned to are not danger zones. Regions such as Nant Par Mone, home to some of those ethnic minority refugees, are completely occupied by Bama (Myanma) soldiers. This means they are being pressured to go back to a place with both the military and the Shan armed groups, where a battle can start anytime. Both sides are still very tense,” said refugee Kyaw Kyaw Oo. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
How to alleviate poverty amid rising urbanisation
Poverty reduction is one of the most important tasks a government must undertake. About 70 per cent of Myanmar’s population is said to live in rural areas, though it is difficult to know exactly, as a massive number of people in rural areas is constantly migrating to cities to find job opportunities. The problem of finding accommodations for all these people is far from solved.
More than 50 countries include housing provisions in their constitutions. These countries arrange accommodations for their citizens. But Myanmar lacks this practice and does not earmark a budget for public housing.
In the 18th century, only 2 per cent of the world lived in urban areas; most people survived on agriculture. At the beginning of the 21st century, about half of the world’s total population was urban. Urbanisation in Myanmar rises every year. Several push and pull factors account for this trend. One push factor is the rising rural population. Furthermore, farmers migrate to cities due to land confiscation, lower crop prices, higher production costs and a lack of modernised farm equipment. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
More than 50 countries include housing provisions in their constitutions. These countries arrange accommodations for their citizens. But Myanmar lacks this practice and does not earmark a budget for public housing.
In the 18th century, only 2 per cent of the world lived in urban areas; most people survived on agriculture. At the beginning of the 21st century, about half of the world’s total population was urban. Urbanisation in Myanmar rises every year. Several push and pull factors account for this trend. One push factor is the rising rural population. Furthermore, farmers migrate to cities due to land confiscation, lower crop prices, higher production costs and a lack of modernised farm equipment. (Courtesy of Eleven Myanmar)
Myanmar tightens security after boat people flee camp
YANGON, Myanmar – Myanmar authorities have tightened security at a town in western Rakhine state after the boat people remaining at a camp in Maungtaw Township fled last week, according to officials Monday.
An official from Rakhine’s immigration department who wished to remain unnamed as he was not authorized to speak to media told Anadolu Agency that 28 people, who authorities say are from neighboring Bangladesh, escaped the temporary camp.
“All 28 boat people including women and children fled the camp last week. We informed Bangladesh authorities about it,” he said by phone.
He added that authorities do not know whether the escapees were still in Myanmar or had crossed the border.
“They frequently asked us to send them back to their country as they don’t want to be here anymore, but the Bangladesh authority is working slowly,” he said.
Myanmar has already repatriated 777 people to the neighboring country after Bangladeshi officials verified their citizenship.
They were among 1,046 people rescued at sea and from an island in southern Myanmar in May amid a crisis that saw thousands of Bangladeshi and Muslim Rohingya – an ethnicity Myanmar does not officially recognize — abandoned by people smugglers. (Courtesy of Fulton News)
An official from Rakhine’s immigration department who wished to remain unnamed as he was not authorized to speak to media told Anadolu Agency that 28 people, who authorities say are from neighboring Bangladesh, escaped the temporary camp.
“All 28 boat people including women and children fled the camp last week. We informed Bangladesh authorities about it,” he said by phone.
He added that authorities do not know whether the escapees were still in Myanmar or had crossed the border.
“They frequently asked us to send them back to their country as they don’t want to be here anymore, but the Bangladesh authority is working slowly,” he said.
Myanmar has already repatriated 777 people to the neighboring country after Bangladeshi officials verified their citizenship.
They were among 1,046 people rescued at sea and from an island in southern Myanmar in May amid a crisis that saw thousands of Bangladeshi and Muslim Rohingya – an ethnicity Myanmar does not officially recognize — abandoned by people smugglers. (Courtesy of Fulton News)
Turkey- Myanmar: Suu Kyi to honor trishaw drivers for polls win
(MENAFN - The Journal Of Turkish Weekly) Myanmar’s election victor Aung San Suu Kyi has invited trishaw – or cycle rickshaw -- drivers in Yangon to an event honoring them for their supportive role during campaigns for last month’s election.
A spokesperson for the National League for Democracy (NLD) the opposition party that won the Nov. 8 polls by a landslide told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that around 220 trishaw drivers are invited to attend the gathering at the Royal Rose restaurant next Saturday.
“They played a big role in election campaign and party’s victory” Win Htein said. “And they are the grassroots of the country who have been long neglected by authorities.”
Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi’s party won 880 parliamentary seats -- or 77.3 percent -- out of a total of 1139 contested seats at three levels of parliament at the polls the first free and fair election in decades.
The sweeping victory left the party in a position to choose the country's next president.
During the campaigns trishaw drivers across the country -- especially in big cities such as commercial capital Yangon and Pathein of the Ayeyawaddy region -- had participated in the NLD campaigns garnering more public attention. (Courtesy of menafn.com)
A spokesperson for the National League for Democracy (NLD) the opposition party that won the Nov. 8 polls by a landslide told Anadolu Agency on Sunday that around 220 trishaw drivers are invited to attend the gathering at the Royal Rose restaurant next Saturday.
“They played a big role in election campaign and party’s victory” Win Htein said. “And they are the grassroots of the country who have been long neglected by authorities.”
Nobel peace laureate Suu Kyi’s party won 880 parliamentary seats -- or 77.3 percent -- out of a total of 1139 contested seats at three levels of parliament at the polls the first free and fair election in decades.
The sweeping victory left the party in a position to choose the country's next president.
During the campaigns trishaw drivers across the country -- especially in big cities such as commercial capital Yangon and Pathein of the Ayeyawaddy region -- had participated in the NLD campaigns garnering more public attention. (Courtesy of menafn.com)
EU to provide fund for food, nutrition security in Myanmar
The European Union will provide additional 70 million euro ($76.09 million) to help enhance food and nutrition security, improve the rule of law and establish peace in Myanmar, the regional grouping said on Monday.
Under the provision, EU will contribute to reducing poverty and improving food and nutrition security through a new aquaculture programme, Xinhua cited an EU release as saying.
EU will continue its support to the reform of the police in its transition into a modern police service.
The grouping will also increase its support for efforts to achieve a lasting peace in Mynamar.
Since the start of reforms in 2011, the EU has lifted sanctions, allocated substantial funding, initiated programmes and encouraged further reforms, said EU Ambassador to Myanmar Roland Kobia. (Courtesy of Business Standard News)
Under the provision, EU will contribute to reducing poverty and improving food and nutrition security through a new aquaculture programme, Xinhua cited an EU release as saying.
EU will continue its support to the reform of the police in its transition into a modern police service.
The grouping will also increase its support for efforts to achieve a lasting peace in Mynamar.
Since the start of reforms in 2011, the EU has lifted sanctions, allocated substantial funding, initiated programmes and encouraged further reforms, said EU Ambassador to Myanmar Roland Kobia. (Courtesy of Business Standard News)
Myanmar: Telenor, Yoma to launch mobile financial service Wave Money in 2016
December 21, 2015:
Myanmar based mobile operator Telenor, will be launching its mobile money transfer service Wave Money, as a subsidiary- in partnership with Yoma Bank.
Telenor, has a 51 per cent stake in the new venture while 49 per cent is held by Yoma bank,
Having gone thorough about five weeks of commercial testing in upper Myanmar, Wave Money will be released for the mass market, the un-banked and those with limited access to the bank. It is expected to be released officially as soon as the Central Bank issues regulations regarded the mobile financial services.
Brad Jones, chief executive officer of Wave Money told DEALSTREETASIA that the money transfer will be the first step and the service will include a suite of other services related to mobile financial transactions.
“We want to begin with the transfer of money and wanted to go with a very focused product and a very simple product. The initial service will be money transfer but we do see the potential future services including the airtime top-ups, bill payments, international remittance, salary disbursements,” said Jones. (Courtesy of Deal Street Asia)
Myanmar based mobile operator Telenor, will be launching its mobile money transfer service Wave Money, as a subsidiary- in partnership with Yoma Bank.
Telenor, has a 51 per cent stake in the new venture while 49 per cent is held by Yoma bank,
Having gone thorough about five weeks of commercial testing in upper Myanmar, Wave Money will be released for the mass market, the un-banked and those with limited access to the bank. It is expected to be released officially as soon as the Central Bank issues regulations regarded the mobile financial services.
Brad Jones, chief executive officer of Wave Money told DEALSTREETASIA that the money transfer will be the first step and the service will include a suite of other services related to mobile financial transactions.
“We want to begin with the transfer of money and wanted to go with a very focused product and a very simple product. The initial service will be money transfer but we do see the potential future services including the airtime top-ups, bill payments, international remittance, salary disbursements,” said Jones. (Courtesy of Deal Street Asia)
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