ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  From April to September 2018, CMP garment export earnings reached USD$ 2.2 billion, exceeding over USD $ 1 billion when compared to the same period of last fiscal year

  Out of total export value in the six-month mini budget from April to September this year, earnings from export of CMP garments reached the largest amount with US$2.2 billion, exceeding over US$1 billion compared to the same period of last year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. In those six months, export of clothes made under CMP system was valued at US$2,279 million, exceeding US$1,003 million compared to last year. Natural gas export value was ranked second with US$1,556 million, falling by US$86 million compared to the same period of last year.
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  Myanmar trade deficit dropped by USD $ 500 million in the six month fiscal year when compared to the same period of last fiscal year

  Trade deficit for the six-month fiscal year, which started on April 1 and ended on September 30, has dropped by $500 million compared to the same period of the previous fiscal year, according to the Ministry of Commerce. During the six-month transitional fiscal year, the amount of export is $8.5 billion and the amount of import on the other hand was $9.8 billion resulting in $1.3 million, dropping nearly $500 million to the same period last fiscal year.The last previous fiscal year’s trade amount was $16 million and therefore the amount of trade increased by around $2 billion. Increased export from value added products including natural gas increased by $1.1 billion as well as increased amount of income from cattle export make the trade deficit less severe, the ministry said.
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  Government authorities will launch new digital tax collection system next year by using technology to enable taxpayers to pay their taxes more conveniently

  Government is amending the tax laws to be clear as well as going to use IT technology for taxpayers to pay tax easily. The government will make existing tax laws clearer and start using technology to enable taxpayers to pay their taxes more conveniently. The tax collection system will be changed from the current paper-based system to a digital system, said U Min Htut, director general of Internal Revenue Department under the Ministry of Planning and Finance, which collects 80 percent of the country’s taxes. “We’re trying to use technology for the convenience of the taxpayers,” he said at a press conference held in Nay Pyi Taw last week.
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  Amata Holdings Public Co., Ltd is under negotiations with an American aviation company to deploy Bell helicopters in Mergui archipelago in Kawthaung, Tanintharyi Region

  Tourism and hotels company Amata Holding Public Co Ltd is in negotiations with representatives of an American aviation company for a deal that could bring helicopter transportation and sea plane flights to the Mergui archipelago in Kawthaung, Tanintharyi Region in the south of Myanmar. “We intend to start helicopter and sea plane operations around the islands near Kawthaung by the end of this year but this also depends on obtaining an air operator certificate (AOC) for helicopter services from the Department of Civil Aviation (DCA),” U Sai Kham Park Pha, a consultant for Amata Aviation told The Myanmar Times. Amata Aviation, one of seven subsidiaries under Amata Holding, is currently in talks with DCA about the AOC. Amata Aviation plans to deploy Bell 505 helicopters from Bell Helicopter, another Textron subsidiary. It will also use Caravan Amphibian aircraft from Cessna, a Textron Inc subsidiary, for sea plane transportation to and from areas in the region that would ordinarily takes hours to reach by boat or car.
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  The British development agency DFID suspended funding for Myanmar’s timber industry reform project due to the Rakhine crisis

  British development agency DFID has suspended funding for a timber industry reform project because of the Rakhine crisis. BRITAIN HAS cited the crisis over Rakhine State for a decision to suspend funding for Myanmar’s effort to join a European Union initiative aimed at combatting illegal logging and promoting effective forest governance. Myanmar has been preparing to sign the EU’s Forest Law Enforcement, Governance and Trade – Voluntary Partnership Agreement since early 2015. The EU adopted the FLEGT Action Plan in 2003 and two years later introduced the voluntary partnership agreements, under which the European Commission is empowered to negotiate bilateral trade deals with timber exporting countries.
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  Myanmar government will open five out of twelve pearl farms in Tanintharyi Region for local and foreign visitors starting from October 2018 in order to boost tourism industry

  Myanmar will open five out of twelve pearl farming sites in Tanintharyi Region for local and foreign visitors starting from October, according Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (Myeik). The aim is to boost the tourism industry, but only tourists who have purchased a pack-age from tour companies are allowed. Individual visitors are not allowed to visit the sites, said Daw Aye Aye Cho, Deputy Manager of Myanmar Pearl Enterprise (Myeik). The sites that have been opened are Pearl Island, Jalan Island, Shwe Island, Nga Lone Laphel Island in Kawkthaung District, and Done Pale Aw Island. Interested visitors must buy tickets to the site one day in advance. “We work with tour companies. Local visitors must pay K15,00 and foreigners $15 to our office. And we do not allow motor boats expect the ones from our department because oyster breeding is very sensitive,’’ she said.
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  Domestic airlines will not raise airfares to compensate for higher jet costs despite rising global oil prices

  Despite rising global oil prices, domestic airlines have no plans yet to raise airfares to compensate for higher jet fuel costs. They said this will help encourage domestic air travel while the number of foreign travelers within the country is still low. “We haven’t increased our fares even though fuel costs have risen. We have no plans to change the air fares now because we are trying to attract more travelers,” Daw Aye Mra Tha, general manager of Air Kanbawza (Air KBZ) told The Myanmar Times. Air KBZ operates flights to 11 domestic destination using six ATR-72 aircraft. Due to rising oil prices and the weakening kyat, the cost of importing jet fuel has increased for local airlines. U Zaw Min Aung, deputy CEO of Golden Myanmar Airlines, said his airline has considered raising airfares to cover the higher cost of jet fuel but finally decided against it.
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  Vice President U Myint Swe urged the authorities to step up efforts in advancing eco-tourism and conservation of biodiversity during his visit to Wingabaw Elephant Camp and Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary in Bago Region

  Vice President U Myint Swe called for stepping up efforts for developing eco-tourism and conservation of biodiversity in his visit to Wingabaw Elephant Camp and Moeyungyi Wetland Wildlife Sanctuary in Bago yesterday. The Vice President first visited the Wingabaw Elephant Camp located 14 miles from Bago and he was welcomed there by Bago Region Chief Minister U Win Thein. At the briefing hall, Managing Director of the Myanma Timber Enterprise U Saw John Shwe Ba reported on establishing the camp and conservation of elephants and arrival of visitors to the camp. After hearing the report, Vice President U Myint Swe stressed the need to conserve the elephants in region as part of efforts to ensure that the elephant population does not decline. He also urged the forest police force and authorities to work together for stepping up efforts for fighting wild elephant poaching.
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  Singapore Myanmar Investco (SMI) which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange will expand in retail market by distributing Brazilian flip flops brand, Havaianas in Myanmar

  Singapore Myanmar Investco (SMI), which is listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, has secured an exclusive agreement to distribute and market Brazilian flip flops brand, Havaianas, in Myanmar. The agreement could see SMI open a network of Havaianas stores across Myanmar over the next five years. “We expect to further broaden the distribution and marketing of Havaianas across all major tourist destinations in the country as well,” Mark Bedingham, president and CEO of SMI, said in an October 8 statement. Havaianas will help SMI broaden and diversify its retail brand portfolio in Myanmar. Last year, SMI secured exclusive rights to distribute and market cosmetics brand Shiseido in Myanmar for a period of three years. The first Shiseido outlet in Myanmar will open in Yangon’s Junction City shopping mall.
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  Government authorities are exploring new untouched beaches in Ayeyarwady Region to bolster the booming tourism industry

  HINTHADA- The government is now exploring untouched beaches in Ayeyawady Region with the aim to bolster the booming tourism industry. At present, the development of tourism industry has given first priority to the Gaw Yan Gyi Island and Shwe Thaung Yan Beach. “In the past, the visitors went to Shwe Thaung Yan Township by boat. At that time, a businessman built a hotel in Shwe Thaung Yan and it was named as Shwe Thaung Yan. Now, the construction of a bridge has been completely finished. In recent days, the Regional Minister arrived at the bridge while inspecting works done to spruce up the environment around the beach. The tar-paved road is being built on the concrete bridge. Upon completion of the road, visitors from Chaungtha Beach can easily go to the Shwe Thaung Yan Beach as transportation is now accessible.. Businesses had already invested in real estate there. The Shwe Thaung Yan Beach will be overtaking the Chaungtha Beach’s popularity soon,” said Zaw Lin Tun, Deputy Director of Hotel and Tourism department in Ayeyawady Region.