ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  Myanmar authorities are striving to export around 300,000 tonnes of rubbers this year as rubber production improves in Myanmar

  Myanmar is expecting to export around 300,000 tonnes of rubber this year on the back of rising production at local plantations, U Khaing Myint, secretary of the Myanmar Rubber Planters and Producers Association (MRPPA) said last week. This is more than the government’s estimates of 260,000 tonnes this year, he said. Rubber exports have been rising in recent years. In 2017, Myanmar sold 140,000 tonnes of rubber overseas, which is up by 56 percent over the previous year, according to official data. Of the 1.6 million acres of rubber plantation land, half are currently actively producing rubber, according to the MRPPA. The rubber plantations have over the years been planting new rubber trees while cutting down older trees and those which no longer produce latex. The aim is for Myanmar to eventually become a substantial exporter of rubber at a time when international demand for rubber is rising.
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  In collaboration with Sagaing Region Government and Border Trade Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tamu organized a meeting for a visiting study team from India

  The Indian Consulate, in collaboration with Sagaing Region Government and Border Trade Chamber of Commerce & Industry, Tamu organised a meeting for a visiting Study Team from India on 9th May, 2019. Consul General of India in Mandalay Mr. Nandan Singh Bhaisora welcomed all the delegates and briefed them on the various steps taken by the Indian Government for implementing Act East Policy of India in Myanmar, including large connectivity projects, bilateral trade, commerce and culture. He mentioned that since connectivity projects are in progress, the time has come to have a vision for a roadmap for the next 5- 10 years down the line for extending the Trilateral Highway to other ASEAN countries including Laos, Cambodia and Vietnam, an economic corridor where movement of goods and people is made easier.
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  Local investors put Ks 893 billion worth of its investments in 89 businesses within seven months of 2018 – 2019 fiscal year

  Local investors put K893 billion worth of investments in 89 businesses and invested more capital in existing investments within seven-month time from October 1 to April 26 in 2018-19 FY, said Thant Zin Lwin, Acting Director General of Directorate of Investment and Companies Administration (DICA). According to the meeting of Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC), the authorities allowed a local investment in industrial sector in Mandalay Region and the investment amount is Ks1.146 billion including US$0.299 billion. It can create 70 job opportunities for local workers. Myanmar is expecting to receive about US$6 billion of foreign investment in 2018-19 FY and at the present, over US$2.5 billion worth of foreign investment within seven-month year time, according to the MIC.
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  Karge has the streamlined logistics for over businesses to simplify the business logistics in Myanmar

  Myanmar continues to be one of Southeast Asia’s fastest and most exciting economies. This creates an exciting environment for business startups of all types. Kargo, a Yangon-based company founded in 2016, is one startup that has flourished in these conditions. Since the company was established by Alexander Wicks, they have streamlined logistics for over 500 businesses in Myanmar. Myanmar Business Today had the opportunity to meet Mr. Wicks, who is currently serving as the CEO of Kargo, and to learn more about his company, motivation, and outlook for the future. Wicks is not new to Southeast Asia and has accrued over ten years of experience in the region, having worked in Singapore, Vietnam and Japan. He has lived in Myanmar for the last six years, working with companies to improve search engine optimization (SEO), web development, and digital marketing. However, we were curious to learn what motivated Wicks to found Kargo, which is focused on logistics. He told us: “My background got me thinking. Because of my tech experience, I looked at Myanmar from a tech prospective; I saw opportunities that could come out of it.”
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  More foreign direct investments (FDI) in Myanmar’s power sector expected to growth in the next five years

  Myanmar’s power sector will spearhead growth in the infrastructure industry and draw the bulk of foreign direct investments (FDI) over the next five years, Fitch Solutions Macro Research said in a report released April 23. With just 40 percent of all households enjoying access to electricity as at September 2017, which is amongst the lowest in Asia, the research firm said. With power cuts still taking place often during the summer months, major impediment to economic development, and the government is aiming for full electrification by 2030. In Myanmar, almost half of all uncompleted projects in the pipeline, valued at US$1 billion, are related to the power sector. This, although aligned with the government’s aim for full electrification by 2030, indicates that the country is likely to fall short of capacity requirements. “Projects in planning or under construction only have a total of 7,319MW of capacity. As such, we expect more power projects to be undertaken in the next decade in order to boost generation capacity. We currently forecast Myanmar’s construction sector to grow at an annual average of 8.9pc in real terms, from 2019 to 2028, largely driven by infrastructure in the power sector,” Fitch Solutions said in its report.
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  The annual meeting of Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) was held in Yangon along with the products exhibition with the aim to develop the fisheries industries of Myanmar

  Myanmar Fisheries Federation (MFF) held its annual meeting with the sector of displaying Fisheries products and showrooms in Yangon on Sunday. It is the 18th, 19th and 20th Meeting with the aims of developing the fisheries industries of Myanmar. At the meeting, the officials from Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, Ministry of Commerce and Myanmar Fisheries Federation explained about the current processes of fisheries enterprises in Myanmar. Myanmar Fisheries Federation is currently implementing Farmer to Farmer Programme with the assistance of USAID and Winrock International Organization. Moreover, the Development of Sustainable and Environment-friendly Aquaculture Technique in Coastal Waters in Myanmar (MYSEFAT project) is also carried out in cooperation with Japan International Research Centre for Agricultural Sciences (JIRCAS).
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  Myanmar produced its first report of Myanmar Corporate Governance Scorecard 2018 in order to improve Myanmar companies’ business practices more competitive in local and regional markets

  Myanmar companies need to improve their business practices to become more competitive in local and regional markets, a new report shows. The Myanmar Corporate Governance Scorecard 2018 is the first report of its kind in the country and assesses the performance of 24 companies in the country. It is published by the International Finance Corporation (IFC), the Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar, the Yangon Stock Exchange and the Directorate of Company Investment and Company Administration (DICA). The report, which assesses companies on the basis of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Corporate Governance Scorecard, reveals that Myanmar firms scored an average of 30 percent, compared to the ASEAN average of 69pc. Some Myanmar players are observed to be performing significantly above the average and listed companies are outperforming public and private ones.
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  Yangon Regional Government set the deadline for claims of resettlement and land compensation for Yangon sky train route project

  Land for the Yangon Urban Mass Rapid Transit (YUMRT) route will have to be acquired and the Yangon regional government has set the deadline for claims of resettlement and other compensation as May 6, the Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) announced earlier this week. Any modifications, extensions and new construction done on land demarcated for acquisition after the deadline, will not be entitled to land compensation, resettlement and compassionate grants, the YCDC stated. “Work on the project is being planned in such a way as to minimise the impact to the areas along Parami road. Only a partial area of land will be affected by the project. Land in plots or block won’t be acquired. In Bangkok and Singapore, the tracks for mass-transit routes are nearly in contact with neaby buildings,» said Mayangone MP U Yan Shin.
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  Export-Import Bank of Thailand (EXIM) will provide more loans for Thai companies venturing into Myanmar

  The Export-Import Bank of Thailand (Exim Thailand) is gearing up to provide more loans for Thai companies venturing into Myanmar on expectations of a long-awaited economic boom, Thailand’s The Nation reported. The bank would provide more loans to Thai and Myanmar businesses that are considering using a wide range of Thai products in their commercial operations in Myanmar, said Pisit Serewiwattana, the president of the bank.
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  Myanmar property market expected to still flat until 2020 though its depend on the policies of the government

  Myanmar’s property market has been lacklustre since 2015 and this situation is expected to continue until next year, said U Myo Myint, general secretary of the Myanmar Construction Entrepreneur Association during an industry discussion in Yangon last week. “This is the current situation. However, what is good is that there will be no worsening in the conditions or a downturn. We cannot say precisely whether the market will climb in 2020 as a lot depends on the policies of the government,” he said. The cost of construction is now high due to the strength of the US dollar, so property prices are not expected to fall from their current levels as the dollar price goes up, U Myo Myint added. Property transactions have decline by 50 percent from their peak five years ago due to low demand. As foreigners are still unable to own land in Myanmar, there has been no pick up in the industry from foreign buying, said Daw Yin Yin Myat, central committee member of the Myanmar Urban and Infrastructure Development Association.