ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  Myanmar government's subsidy of the electricity bill is hindering the development of the electricity sector (Industry experts)

  Ministers and industry experts say the government’s approach of paying the electricity bill using the union budget is a hindrance to the development of the sector. In 2012, the average export rates per electric unit in Southeast Asian countries can cost up to more than K267 per electric unit: K67 in Brunei, K71 in Myanmar, K117 in Thailand, more than K105 in Laos, more than K119 in Vietnam, approximately K166 in Malaysia, K230 in Cambodia, and approximately K267 in Singapore. Myanmar has the second lowest electricity export rate in Southeast Asia.
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  A universal card payment system covering fare payments on Yangon's public transport system will be rolled out from April 2017 (Yangon Region Chief Minister)

  A universal card payment system covering fare pay¬ments on Yangon’s pub¬lic transport system will be rolled out from April, the Yangon Region Chief Minister told a briefing of journalists late last month.
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  Two Japanese industrial companies have made a joint proposal to build and operate a water treatment facility in the central Myanmar town of Wundwin, which suffers from polluted waterways caused by its textile dyeing industry

  Two Japanese industrial companies have made a joint proposal to build and operate a water treatment facility in the central Myanmar town of Wundwin, which suffers from polluted waterways caused by its textile dyeing industry.
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  Permits to open about 600 private fuel stations in Yangon are being sought

  Permits to open about 600 private fuel stations in Yangon are being sought: only 150, out of 2,065 countrywide, fuel stations are in Yangon because the land and real property values are excessively high (entrepreneurs)
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  Myanmar will collaborate with the U.S. to boost white shrimp production, aiming to penetrate the global market (Myanmar Shrimp Association)

  Myanmar will collaborate with the U.S. to boost white shrimp production, aiming to penetrate the global market, Dr Sein Maung from the Myanmar Shrimp Association. The U.S. will share not only breeding techniques but systems covering biosecurity, pond management and hygiene as well as conservation of the natural environment, said Dr Jim Wybam, chairman of Marine Genetics in Hawaii of the United States.
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  The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) may allow banks to launch trading services if local banks are unable to facilitate trade financing for importers and exporters (Director General of the CBM)

  “The Central Bank has already allowed local private banks to do trade financing. If they [local private banks] cannot fulfil the matter of trade financing, we have a plan to allow foreign bank branches in Myanmar to serve importers and exporters with trade only accounts [trading accounts], but other types of account [such as saving accounts] will not be given permission to open at these branches,” he said.
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  Local vehicle manufacturer Myanmar Motor Corporation (MMC) will begin producing buses for both domestic and international markets: the company aims to produce 100 buses annually, going up to 200 per year within nine years and hopes that demand from countries in the Asia-Pacific region can drive exports

  Local vehicle manufacturer Myanmar Motor Corporation (MMC) will begin the production of buses for both domestic and international markets, after the Yangon based company was given the nod by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC). MMC has set aside $10 million for the operation which covers upgrades to its Mingaladon assembly facility and production costs. Initially, the company plans to produce two types of bus-a 49 seater and a 55 seater for city and highway use.
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  A bank that caters for small scale travel and tour companies is expected to launch this year (Myanmar Tourism Federation)

  A bank that caters for small scale travel and tour companies is expected to launch this year, accord¬ing to the Myanmar Tour¬ism Federation. The Tourism Bank Pub¬lic Company, which the federation began making plans to launch in Octo-ber 2014, will open three branches nationwide: at Bo Son Pet Street in Yan¬gon, Thabyay Gone Mar¬ket in Nay Pyi Taw and 27th Street in Mandalay.
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  The Central Bank of Myanmar has required local banks to upgrade the card payment technology, as a step toward integrating the payment system with the ASEAN region

  Daw Than Than Swe, the director general of the Central Bank, told the Myanmar Times that all the payment cards issued by local banks will have to be upgraded to EMV standard, as a measure to strengthen security. Currently, Myanmar banks are issuing debit and credit cards which are classified as non-EMV chip cards. Therefore, these cards will be switched to the EMV standard which offers more protection, and all local banks will finish phasing out the old cards by 2020, she explained.
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  The rental market on the outskirts of Yangon's metropolitan area will improve in 2017 (real estate service providers in the region)

  The real estate mar¬ket on the outskirts of Yangon’s metro¬politan area will improve in 2017, real estate service providers in the region have said.