ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) has been increased more foreign trading was permitted for the first time in Myanmar last month

  The number of foreigners buying shares on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) has been increasing since foreign trading was permitted for the first time in Myanmar last month. Buoyed by foreign purchases, activity on the local bourse has picked up despite the COVID-19 outbreak, YSX data showed. Between March 22 and April 20, foreigners scooped up a total of 2,002 shares of First Myanmar Investment Public Co (FMI) and 4,460 shares of Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH). This comes after the Securities and Exchange Commission of Myanmar (SECM) in July 2019 issued a notice saying that foreign individuals would be permitted to invest in up to 35 percent of the shares of the companies listed on the YSX.
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  South Korean investments in Myanmar were put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic

  South Korean investments in Myanmar were put on hold because of the COVID-19 pandemic
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  Visa Foundation announced a commitment $210 Million to Support Small and Micro Businesses and Immediate COVID-19 Emergency Relief

  The Visa Foundation recently announced a commitment of two programmes totalling $210 million to support small and micro businesses, aligning with the Foundation’s long-term focus on women’s economic advancement and inclusive economic development, and to address an urgent need from local communities following the spread of COVID-19. The first programme of $10 million is designated for immediate emergency relief to support charitable organizations on the frontlines responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as public health and food relief, in each of the five geographic regions in which Visa operates: North America; Latin America and the Caribbean; Europe; Asia Pacific; and Central Europe, Middle East and Africa. “As COVID-19 continues to unfold, communities are feeling the effects and need our immediate support,” said Al Kelly, CEO and chairman of Visa. “As a global company that operates a very local business, we recognize this need. We’re also committed to the long-term recovery and will continue to explore ways we can accelerate economic activity in line with our mission to help individuals, businesses and economies thrive.”
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  Ministry of Commerce started accepting online application for export/import licenses for certain items

  The Ministry of Commerce started accepting online application for export/import licenses for certain items and it was proved to be effective as the ministry was able to issue license in 20 minutes after the application. Thus, it will accept online application for the remaining items. Before, eligible items for online license applications were CMPs (garment), drugs and pharmaceutical equipment, foods, fertiliser, palm oil and oil products, milk and dairy products, electronics and power supplies, lubricants, motorbikes, bicycles, agricultural products, sugar, gas and so on.
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  World Bank has fast-tracked $50 million to Myanmar ICU upgrade in loan financing for Myanmar COVID-19 Emergency Response Project

  Myanmar is among just 10 percent of the globe projected by the International Monetary Fund to post economic growth this year. The rest of the world is expected to slip into recession. The forecast comes despite the spread of COVID-19 in Myanmar, which has already resulted in the closing of its borders, worsening conflict in Rakhine State, a collapse in tourism and dimmer prospects of mass investment from Europe and America. Still, growth is forecast to slow considerably. In its April World Economic Outlook, the IMF slashed Myanmar’s 2020 growth forecast to 1.8pc from 6.4pc. This would be Myanmar’s slowest growth rate since the junta handed over power to U Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government in 2011. The economy has already been hurt by the crisis, with the number of factories having shut down in Myanmar estimated to be around 40 and nearly 17,000 workers laid off or furloughed.
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  Workers can make complaints unless employers comply with health regulations and guidelines on COVID – 19 issued by Ministry of Health and Sports

  Workers can make a complaint if they are forced to work during the mandatory inspection period of factories and workplaces, said an official of the Confederation of Trade Unions in Myanmar (CTUM). The factories and workplaces in the respective industrial zones across the country will undergo mandatory inspection between 20 and 30 April to resume their operations, in line with the regulations and guidelines on Covid-19 issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports, stated the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population in its announcement.
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  Myanmar Government is planning to build new port terminal with the financial assistance from Japanese Government

  The Ministry of Transportation and Communications (MOTC) is planning to build new port terminals with financial assistance from the Japanese Government, minister U Thant Sin Maung said. Myanmar has nine ports located in Yangon Region, Ayeyarwaddy Region, Mon State, Tanintharyi Region, and Rakhine State along the coast of the country. The Port of Yangon is the major port of the country and handles about 90 percent of the country’s exports and imports. The country’s ports handled around 890,000 twenty-foot equivalent units (TEU) in the fiscal year 2015-16. During the last fiscal year, Yangon ports had handled 1.2 million TEUs.
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  Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA) acceptes visa extension of foreign staff and management experts

  DICA has accepted VISA extension of foreign staff and management experts that not later than five days prior to VISA expiry date.
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  Myanmar Edible Oil Dealer’s Association (MEODA) will provide online service for cooking oil export and import licences during COVID – 19 crisis

  Myanmar Edible Oil Dealers’ Association (MEODA) will provide online service while seeking the association’s approval to apply for export and import licence during the Covid-19 crisis. This move aims to prevent person-to-person contact and slow the spread of the virus. Regarding the online service, the documents must be sent to meoda.2011@gmail.com and office Viber (959 444437295) in pdf or jpeg format. The fund can be paid to the association’s fund account (KBZ- 005-304-00501821101, AGD- 3040202000034019). The association has urged the public not to make panic buying to maintain the stability of the cooking oil market.
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  Myanmar’s economy is still forecast to grow despite the spread of COVID – 19 in Myanmar

  Myanmar is among just 10 percent of the globe projected by the International Monetary Fund to post economic growth this year. The rest of the world is expected to slip into recession. The forecast comes despite the spread of COVID-19 in Myanmar, which has already resulted in the closing of its borders, worsening conflict in Rakhine State, a collapse in tourism and dimmer prospects of mass investment from Europe and America. Still, growth is forecast to slow considerably. In its April World Economic Outlook, the IMF slashed Myanmar’s 2020 growth forecast to 1.8pc from 6.4pc. This would be Myanmar’s slowest growth rate since the junta handed over power to U Thein Sein’s quasi-civilian government in 2011. The economy has already been hurt by the crisis, with the number of factories having shut down in Myanmar estimated to be around 40 and nearly 17,000 workers laid off or furloughed.