ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  Myanmar Sustainable Aquaculture Programme (MYSAP) 2017 - 2022 will be implemented by the Fisheries Department and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ) to support aquaculture research and increase fish production in Shan State

  The Myanmar Sustainable Aquaculture Programme (MYSAP) will push for aquaculture research and increased production of fish in Shan State. Although the state has the resources, it is not yet self-sufficient in fish production and has to rely on supply from other regions, according to the MYSAP. The Thanlwin River and its tributary, and the Inle Lake are the main fish resources in Shan State. As production in the state is not enough to meet the demand, it usually depends on Yangon, Mandalay, and Ayeyawady regions for supply of fish, according to the MYSAP. The MYSAP 2017-2022 is being jointly implemented by the Fisheries Department and the German Corporation for International Cooperation (GIZ). The project has received 22.25 million euros in funding from the European Union and the GIZ.
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  In cooperation with private companies, US- ASEAN Business Council and UMFCCI organized the Conference on Digital Transformation of SMEs in order to boost competitiveness

  SMEs Conference on Digital Transformation to boost competitiveness took place in Yangon, Monday. It was jointly organized by US-ASEAN Business Council and UMFCCI in cooperation with private companies. This conference aimed to encourage the establishment of promotion of the Digital economy and to promote U.S. companies to ASEAN and to raise awareness in US about ASEAN as well. It is focused on the digitalization of Myanmar SMEs and integration to E-commerce, a digital toolkit for market expansion, smart and effective marketing content making for products and services as well as digital banking and payment solutions for SMEs.
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  Parami Energy will invest USD $ 25 million in the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) next year (U Pyi Wa Tun, CEO of Parami Energy)

  Parami Energy will accelerate the distribution of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) next year, CEO U Pyi Wa Tun said yesterday. He said in a press conference that starting from December 12, 150,000 Parami LPG cylinders will be distributed in the market and before April 2019, 50pc of the LPG cylinders will be distributed in Yangon Region. After April next year, it will be distributed across the country. The capital involvement is currently K15 billion and another US$25 million will be invested over the next three years to build more factories. Currently, LPG is being imported via Thailand’s border. Myanmar does not have the infrastructure needed to produce its own LPG. About 70,000 tonnes of LPG is imported yearly from Thailand. Compared to 4 million tonnes per year consumption in Thailand, LPG consumption in Myanmar is still low, with less than 5pc of households. U Pyi Wa Tun attributed this to the lack of mass distribution in the local market.
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  Government implemented new Investment Ministry plan generates with mixed reactions from opposition politicians and political analysts

  Critics of the government’s move to form a ministry for attracting investment say it was needed years ago, but supporters say the negative comments are premature. THE GOVERNMENT'S decision to create a new ministry to attract foreign investment has drawn criticism from opposition politicians and political analysts, but has been broadly welcomed by a business community affected by a flat economy. President U Win Myint announced on November 19 that the National League for Democracy government would establish a Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations and that it would be headed by Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) chairperson U Thaung Tun. The ministry will take over the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) and the Foreign Economic Relations Department from the Ministry of Planning and Finance.
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  Seven million kyats fine will be imposed on private banks for the undisclosed opening of new branches

  Central Bank Vice-Chairman Soe Thein said that they would impose 7 million kyats fine on private banks if they did not inform them of the opening of new branches. “They must inform us if they open branches without our permission. They can either close these unauthorized branches or face the fine,” Soe Thein said. The Vice-Chairman was speaking to reporters after the signing ceremony of an agreement for establishing the first credit information centre, held at Myanmar Banks Association in Yangon on December 10.
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  Although over 1,000 applications have been received for mining blocks since July, only 193 applications received are complete

  Over 1000 applications have been received for mining blocks since July, according to U Min Min Oo, permanent secretary at the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) at the 4th annual general meeting of Myanmar Federation of Mining Association held last week. However, only 193 of all the applications received are complete, he said. Major discrepancies in the applications include applying for overlapping blocks, already-permitted blocks and a single block by more than one person, U Min Min Oo said “Applications with complete data will be submitted to the ministry. They can take one to six months to process, depending on how quickly the regions and states can respond,” he told the media.
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  Myanmar Credit Bureau Ltd signed the agreement with Equifax New Zealand Information Services and Solution Limited to provide loan data service, which will be available at the end of 2019

  Myanmar Credit Bureau Ltd will start providing the credit bureau service at the end of 2019. On December 10, Myanmar Credit Bureau Ltd signed the agreement with Equifax New Zealand Information Services and Solutions Limited for credit bureau service. Zaw Lin, President of Myanmar Credit Bureau Ltd said: “This is the first step to implement Myanmar’s first Credit Bureau. We signed Credit Bureau Software License and the installation and consultancy agreements today. We will provide credit bureau service within 9 to 12 months since the contract signing.” The credit bureau has kept the information about money lenders and borrowers. The company will provide service whether or not the borrowers follow the loan rules and repay loan in a correct manner. Those who have got the highest mark designated by the Credit Bureau an easily take loans with guarantee.
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  A new survey shows that confidence among businessmen in Myanmar is sinking due to concerns about the National League for Democracy-led government’s management of the economy

  More European businesses say they have lost confidence in Myanmar due to concerns about the National League for Democracy-led government’s management of the economy compared to the last two years, a new survey shows. According to the latest survey from the European Chamber of Commerce in Myanmar (EuroCham) published yesterday, a majority of firms (81 percent) are not happy with Myanmar’s business environment, compared with 76pc in 2017 and 67pc in 2016. Almost half of the firms surveyed (45pc) said the business environment has worsened over the last 12 months, a significant increase from 2017 (30pc) and 2016 (18pc). Falling profitability may have dampened confidence as only 37pc of the companies reported profits from their businesses in the country. In 2017 and 2016, the number stood at 41pc and 50pc, respectively.
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  Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation will allow logging and export from private forest plantations by local and foreign investors

  Ministry of Resource and Environmental Conservation will now allow logging and export from private forest plantations by local and foreign investors. The government, attempting to protect the environment and prevent deforestation in Myanmar, banned export of whole logs, in April 2014, with the exception of processed wood products. Following the ban, the volume of exports dropped significantly from $900 million in the 2013-2014 fiscal year, to $200 million in recent years. “We have proposed allowing logging to the Ministry, and will allow the export of logs from private forests as soon as we have approval from the cabinet. This is a move to lure interest from investors to grow our private forest,” said U Tin Tun, Director of the Department of Forestry under the Ministry of Resource and Environmental Conservation.
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  Government authorities expect to receive more foreign investment in Ayeyarwady region after a new road connecting Ayeyarwady with Yangon is complete

  Investors eyeing expansion opportunities in Myanmar might want to consider Ayeyarwady Region, where the government is now prioritising developments in the agriculture, livestock and marine, forestry, industry, infrastructure, transportation and tourism sectors, said regional chief minister U Hla Myo Aung. “Although much of the country’s exports originate in Ayeyarwady, foreign investments in the region are currently minimal. However, we can expect that to rise in the coming years after a new road connecting Ayeyarwady with Yangon is complete and a project that will fulfill Myanmar’s electricity needs commences construction in this region,” said U Aung Naing Oo, Director General of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). The officials were speaking at the Ayeyarwady Region Investment Fair 2018 held on November 30.