ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

H.E. U Thaung Tun, Chairman of Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) delivered the keynote address at the Myanmar Insight 2018 which was held in Bangkok on 20 July 2018`
The following is the Keynote Address by H.E. U Thaung Tun, Chairman of the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) at “Myanmar Insight 2018” Shangri-La Hotel, Bangkok, 20 July 2018, the address was given with the title “Myanmar’s Political and Economic Climate: Enabling Environment for International Investment” “As a frequent visitor to this beautiful city by the Chao Phraya river, I fully appreciate the reasons why some of our Thai friends refer to it as Krun Thep Mahanakon , " City of Angels-- a city given by Indra and built by Vishnukam.” The scenic beauty of the river and the warm hospitality extended to the Myanmar delegation makes us feel at home. I wish to thank Foreign Minister Don Pramudwinai, for his kind invitation. I would also like to express our deep appreciation to Ambassador Boon-Long and the Thai Business Association of Myanmar for organizing this special event in conjunction with the 70th anniversary celebrations of the establishment of Myanmar- Thailand diplomatic relations.
Myanmar remains upbeat on attracting more investments from Thailand after a revamped companies law comes into effect on 1 August 2018
MYANMAR is confident of attracting more investments from Thailand after a revamped companies law comes in at the start of next month, a senior official investment said. “We have great potential to welcome a huge influx of Thai investments over the next few years,” said Thant Sin Lwin, deputy director general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). “Thai businesses’ interest in Myanmar is on the rise, and bilateral relations have become stronger during the current government term. I am sure we will receive more investments from Thai businesses from now on.” He said that legislative reforms, including the enactment of the Myanmar Companies Law in November last year to replace a century-old Burma Companies Act, would particularly stoke the interest of Thai businesses to do business across the border. “We are always open to foreign investors. Over the past two years, DICA has received many Thai businesses that showed their keen interest to invest here. We usually receive potential Thai investors every single month,” he said.
UMFCCI is encouraging Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) to embrace digital technology to ensure their long term survival
As small and medium enterprises in Myanmar are facing challenges, the Union of Myanmar Federation of Chamber of Commerce and Industry is encouraging small and medium-sized enterprises to pursue digital competency to ensure their long-term survival, a chamber executive member said in an exclusive interview. Aye Tun, vice president of the chamber’s SMEs Committee and vice president of Myanmar Industries Association, said technology could ensure SMEs of success as they seek to expand in the digital era. To assist them, the federation and Kasikorn Bank have launched the “KBank Biz Plan Challenge” for digital entrepreneurs. Training has been underway since June 29 for a competition to be held on August 20. The participants selected will meet successful Thai businesspeople during a trip to Thailand on August 3031, and the winner will receive a US$10,000 prize. “For Myanmar SMEs to expand overseas, they need to be strong in the domestic market first,” Aye Tun said. “Then they can produce more and let the world know about the quality of made-in-Myanmar goods. It’s time we got out of import dependency. In this regard, technology does matter.”
Egat International Co (EGATi) seeks at least 10potential sites to construct small gas-fired power plants with a capacity of 5 – 10 megawatts in Myanmar
Egat International Co (EGATi), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat), is in talks with local operators to construct small gas-fired power plants in Myanmar. The company is seeking at least 10 potential sites for the construction of power plants with a capacity of 5-10 megawatts. EGATi estimates the investment budget at US$3-6 million per plant. Liquefied petroleum gas will be the main fuel for power generation in Myanmar. According to president Watchara Hemruchatanun, once EGATi has local partners, the next step will be to meet with Myanmar's policymakers. "We expect to come up with a further conclusion about our projects in Myanmar very soon," he said. "We aim to sell the electricity to local household users and distribute through local state administrations." Mr Watchara said the company is confident that the Myanmar business plan will be worthwhile for EGATi's investment because local users pay power bills of up to 10 baht per kilowatt-hour.
Yangon Regional Government's plans to establish two logistics projects, Ngwe Pin Le Integrated Logistics Zone and IWT Jetty Link Dry Port project in the east waylaid by the parliament's concerns
The Yangon government’s plan to launch two logistics projects in the outskirts of the city to relief traffic congestion downtown has been met with parliament resistance. The Ngwe Pin Le Integrated Logistics Zone and IWT Jetty Link Dry Port Project are now being established across 194 acres of land near Ngwe Pin Le industrial zone in Hlaing Thar Yar township. Construction of the two projects, estimated to require an investment of K151 billion, will begin this year and take three years to complete. The regional government has already set up a separate vehicle - Yangon Metropolitan Development Public Co (YMD) - to manage the projects, Daw Ni Lar Kyaw, regional minister of Electricity, Industry and Transportation and a director of YMD, said during a regional parliament session in June. YMD, which was incorporated in March 2017, is 91 percent-owned by the Yangon government. The remaining 9pc is held by several companies, including the Myanmar Construction Development Public Co, said U Shein Win, chair of Myanmar Construction Entrepreneurs Association and director of YMD.
Myanmar and China will sign a MOU on building the China- Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) in order to promote economic integration between China, Southeast Asia and South Asia countries
Recently, U Aung Naing Oo, director general of the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration of Myanmar, said that Myanmar and China will soon sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on building the China-Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC), one of the key projects of the Belt and Road initiative (BRI). The two sides reached a 15-point MoU at the working group level in February this year and agreed to collaborate on many sectors including basic infrastructure, construction, manufacturing, agriculture, transport, finance, human resource development, telecommunications, and research and technology in order to develop the CMEC. Fresh progress on the CMEC since its announcement during Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi's Myanmar tour in November last year indicates Sino-Myanmar ties are heading in the right direction. The corridor connects Yunnan and three important economic centers in Myanmar, including Mandalay, Yangon New City and Kyaukphyu Special Economic Zone (SEZ), and aims to promote the economic integration of the region. This also coincides with the national development plan of Myanmar in which Myanmese leaders are trying to address economic imbalances by enhancing connectivity between developed Yangon and remote and undeveloped Rakhine State. Hence, the economic corridor is the convergence of common interests of Myanmar and China.
Plans afoot to seek the loans from Thailand for two lanes Dawei- Htikhee road which is included in the Dawei Special Economic Zone project (Dr. Than Myint, Union Minister for Commerce)
Plans are underway to seek loans from Thailand to build two-lane Dawei-Htikhee road included in the Dawei Special Economic Zone project, said Union Minister for Commerce Dr Than Myint, who is also chairman of Myanmar SEZ Central Work Committee. The construction has been agreed and approval sought from relevant parliaments. The government is also working together with Japan International Cooperation Agency to develop not only Dawei SEZ but also the whole of Tanintharyi Region. The Thai government offered to provide loans with low interest rate for construction of a two-lane road connecting the Thai border and Dawei SEZ. Myanmar's Ministry of Construction and Department of Highways from Thailand conducted a survey to measure the road axis. According to sources released by the Ministry of Information, the road will contribute substantially to the Dawei SEZ project and the local populace.
Myanmar authorities are hoping to secure an Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) loan from Tokyo in order to resuscitate the failed Hanthawadddy airport project
The transport ministry is hoping to secure an Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) loan from Tokyo to resuscitate the failed Hanthawaddy airport project, according to the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA). However, the facts show that an airport 80km away from Yangon is unnecessary and that the focus should be on strengthening the infrastructure for the existing airport and attracting more passengers instead. More alarmingly, officials said that the tender process for the project will begin once the Japanese aid is approved, but failed to mention any plan to undertake environmental assessment, which is required by law. DCA’s deputy secretary general U Ye Htut Aung said that the government is keen to revive the failed project by securing an ODA loan from Japan because the National League for Democracy-led government regards it as a priority for the nation. “Hanthawaddy airport must be developed due to the limited capacity of Yangon International Airport [YIA]”, he said, referring to both the terminal as well as runway capacity. Authorities have claimed in the past that the YIA is already at full capacity with 3 million passengers annually. This claim however does not match with the facts.
After two years suspension on mining activities, local and foreign investments are permitted in Myanmar’s mining blocks under the new Myanmar Mining Rule enacted in February 2018
Local and foreign investments in Myanmar’s mining blocks will be permitted under the new Myanmar Mining Rule enacted February 2018, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation (MONREC) Mining activities had been suspended in 2016 so that the ministry could assess the industry’s compliance with environmental rules and regulations. “We have since inspected up to 519 mining sites and made many reforms. We believe the mining sector is now ready to contribute to our nation’s development,” U Khin Latt Kyi, director general of the Mining Department under the MONREC, said during a press conference in Nay Pyi Taw on July 13. “The mining sector is now open to local and foreign investors after two years,” he told The Myanmar Times. Applications made individually or online will be accepted starting from July 26.
FMI Air suspended services from 20 July 2018 after less than six years in operation in the latest sign of pressures on Myanmar’s domestic aviation industry
YANGON — FMI Air will suspend its services from July 20 after less than six years in operation, a company spokesperson has confirmed, in the latest sign of pressures in Myanmar’s domestic aviation industry. The airline was founded by businessman Serge Pun in September 2012 to operate commuter flights between Yangon and Nay Pyi Taw and has since expanded to several tourist destinations including Thandwe, Myeik and Kawthaung. A spokesperson said the company could not comment on the decision to stop operating and that further details would be released on Friday. In June 2015, First Myanmar Investment reduced its stake in FMI Air to 10 percent, selling a 40 percent equity stake to Yangon Land, a subsidiary of Serge Pun and Associates. At the time, the company said in a disclosure document to the Yangon Stock Exchange that it expected competition in the domestic airline industry to intensify. “We are of the opinion that the aviation industry will require consolidation to be more efficient,” it said.