ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached 154.56 percent in the late of June which up 9.51 percent when compared to the same period of last year

  Consumer Price Index (CPI) reached 154.56 per cent in late June, up 9.51 per cent compared with the same period last year, according to the report on the CPI and inflation rate issued by the Central Statistical Organization (CSO). According to the calculations using 2012 as the base year, the CPI for food group hit 170.65 per cent with the non-food group, reaching 131.92 per cent. An increase in the CPI is due to a significant increase in commodity prices. According to the same calculation, the CPI increased from 141.13 per cent in June to 148.95 per cent in November last year. In late June, all regions and states saw a slight increase in the CPI. Mon State saw the highest with 1.44 per cent and Sagaing Region, the lowest with 0.03 per cent.
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  The Central Bank of Myanmar and the Bank of Thailand will collaborate in financial matters to assist on the development of trade and investment The Central Bank of Myanmar and the Bank of Thailand will collaborate in financial matters to assist on the development of trade and investment

  Central Banks of Myanmar and Thailand will collaborate in financial matters to assist the development of trade and investment, according to the Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) Wednesday, Xinhua reported. A meeting between the central banks of the two countries, held in Nay Pyi Taw Tuesday, discussed adopting a framework for comprehensive use of Myanmar kyat and Thai baht in border trade, signing of a memorandum of understanding on payment system between the two central banks and challenges in implementing them.
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  “Gig” economy is expanding as companies turn more cautions when hiring workers, is growing in Myanmar

  Across Asia, contract and freelance positions in firms from start-ups to large conglomerates are becoming more commonplace. While still novel in Myanmar, the so-called “gig” economy is expanding as companies turn more cautious when hiring. Meanwhile, workers are opting for the freedom to maintain a better work-life balance or opportunity to earn from diversified sources of income. A 2019 global Deloitte survey of over 13,000 millennials found almost half of respondents believe gig workers earn as much as those in full-time jobs and the same number think gig workers have a better work-life balance. In Asia Pacific, eight in 10 talent managers hire or use gig workers, according to a 2018 report from KellyOCG. In Myanmar, freelance and contract jobs are becoming a good way for companies to avoid the commitment of hiring full time and for jobseekers to earn extra income. Compared to the rest of the region though, gig opportunities are less common, said Ma Honey Mya Win, founder of Chatesat, an online platform which connects freelancers to employers.
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  Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MOHT) launched its new portal aiming to promote Myanmar’s tourism activities and create interest in the visitors from all parts of the world

  The Ministry of Hotels and Tourism (MOHT) launched a new portal on 31st July, Wednesday, as part of its efforts to reach visitors seeking a unique Asian experience. Launching of newly portal is aimed to promote Myanmar as an emerging tourist destination offering diverse experiences of abundant resources, culture and natural heritage, genuine hospitality and spiritual values, to create an environment for the visitors to meet at a single place and to give services to the international tour agencies which are interested in tourist destination of Myanmar if they want to seek markets in the tourism promotion.
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  IKBZ insurance’s survey resulted that insurance is a largely unknown concept in Myanmar

  IKBZ Insurance conducted a survey among a representative group of 1,000 adults from seven regions and states in Myanmar. Half of the respondents were male, and half were female. The survey was conducted between April and May of this year. What were the results? Astoundingly, it was found that only 17 percent of the survey participants were familiar with the insurance policy options available in the market, or indeed of the general concept of insurance at all. One out of every three respondents felt that insurance products were too complicated. However, after the concept of life and health insurance was explained, 63 percent of those surveyed expressed some level of interest in protecting themselves and their families through an insurance plan.
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  Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Myanmar reached 77 percent to USD $ 2.3 billion in the first half of 2019 when compared to the same period of last year

  Government-approved foreign direct investment (FDI) into the country stood at US$2.3 billion in the first-half of 2019, a 77 percent improvement from the same period last year when approved FDI came in at US$1.3 billion. According to statistics from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, Singapore was the top investor with US$1.3 billion and 13 approved projects, China came second with US$330 million and over 60 approved projects. By industry, transport and communications received the most investments of US$1 billion, manufacturing saw US$800 million investments while services received US$160 million. Another US$130 million of approved investments went to the hotel and tourism as well as livestock and fisheries industries.
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  Ministry of Planning and Finance announced the six successful applicants for life and non-life insurers to operate under joint venture among local and foreign insurers

  The Ministry of Finance and Planning (MOFP) announced the successful applicants for life and non-life insurers to be operated under joint ventures between locals and foreigners on July 31. For non-life insurance, the MOFP has allowed AYA Myanmar General Insurance Company and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance, Grand Guardian General Insurance Company and Tokio Marine, Nichido Fire Insurance and IKBZ Insurance Company as well as Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company to form joint ventures. For life insurance, joint ventures have been allowed between Capital Life Insurance and Taiyo Life Insurance Company, Citizen Business Insurance and Thai Life Insurance, and Grand Guardian Life Insurance Company and Nippon Life Insurance.
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  Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) approved nine investment proposals in the livestock and fisheries, manufacturing, hotel and real estate sectors which will create over 3,000 job opportunities

  The Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) meeting (12 / 2019) was convened at the meeting room of the MIC on the morning of 30rd July 2019 in Yangon. U Thaung Tun, Chairman of the MIC, Dr. Than Myint, Vice Chairman and (8) members attended the meeting. The meeting approved nine projects in the livestock and fisheries, manufacturing, hotel and realestate sectors. The amount of USD 101.172 million and Kyat 110,703.800 million have been approved for those projects, which will create 3,029 job opportunities for Myanmar citizens.
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  More foreign investments entered in production and industrial sectors and halted in real estate and housing sectors

  More foreign investments are entered in production and industrial sectors and halted in real estate and housing sectors, said Thant Sin Lwin, Director General of Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). In last five years, most foreign investments entered into hydropower production and natural gas sectors. At the present, the increase of foreign investment in production and industrial sectors is not noticeable significantly as only small amount of foreign investments entered in those sectors. “In 2014 and 2015, the foreign investments went double as the investments were made in hydropower production and natural gas sectors. The numbers of CMP manufacturing businesses are increased but their investments are about US$5 or 6 million each. It is not much but the numbers of business are increased,” he said.
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  China leads the largest investor in Myanmar’s financial hub in the first nine months of the current fiscal year

  China was the largest investor in Myanmar’s financial hub, Yangon Region, in the first nine months of the current fiscal year, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). China is already the second-largest investor in the country. The director of DICA’s Yangon Region Office, U Myo Khaing Oo, said on Wednesday that as of July 24, Yangon Region had given the green light to a total of 113 foreign investment projects in the current 2018-19 fiscal year, which ends on Sept. 30. Of those, 65 are by Chinese companies. “Chinese account for the biggest share,” said U Myo Khaing Oo, who is also secretary of the Yangon Region Investment Committee (YRIC). However, he did not reveal which sector received the most investment from China. In addition to the Chinese projects, the regional government approved 17 projects from Hong Kong; six each from India and Taiwan; four from Japan; three each from Singapore and the British Virgin Islands; and nine from other countries. The foreign projects were worth a total of US$201.022 million (303.83 billion kyats), according to the YRIC.