ข่าวเศรษฐกิจและธุรกิจประจำสัปดาห์

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  The value of stock trading on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) reached the lowest in April

  The value of shares traded on the Yangon Stock Exchange (YSX) in April touched the lowest of K902 million with 173,808 shares being traded, due to the long market holidays during Thingyan. In January 2020, 196,836 shares worth K1.25 billion were traded on the exchange while 188,919 shares, with an estimated value of K1.48 billion, were traded on the exchange in February and 228,913 shares valued K1.42 billion were traded in March respectively, the exchange’s monthly report showed. At present, shares of five listed companies — First Myanmar Investment (FMI), Myanmar Thilawa SEZ Holdings (MTSH), Myanmar Citizens Bank (MCB), First Private Bank (FPB), and TMH Telecom Public Co. Ltd — are being traded on the stock exchange.
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  Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) crosses more than USD $ 3.446 billion as of 28 April in the 2019 – 2020 financial year

  Myanmar has attracted foreign direct investment of more than US$3.446 billion between 1 October and 28 April in the 2019-2020 financial year, including the expansion of capital by existing enterprises, according to the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA). The total figure includes investments of $91.85 million in the Special Economic Zones, under the Special Economic Zone Law. Myanmar has set an FDI target of $5.8 billion in the current fiscal, but we cannot measure the impact of coronavirus infections at present, said DICA Director-General and MIC Secretary U Thant Sin Lwin.
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  Construction of the Chin State airports are making under process and will be completed this month despite COVID – 19

  Despite some construction delays, Chin State's first airport is expected to open by June. Construction of Surbung Airport in Falam township, Chin State, will be complete by this month, U Soe Htet, a spokesperson for the Chin State government. "Work is progressing on schedule as we have maintained 300 workers on the construction site," he said. The workers are being isolated at the construction site and have been asked not to leave. Likewise, outsiders are not allowed to enter the area. Currently, the K37 million airport is around 75 percent complete with an 800 meter runway.
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  Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) cuts 50 percent service charges for both local and foreign companies in submitting applications

  Myanmar Investment Commission announced 50 percent service charges cut for both local and foreign companies when submitting applications in an attempt to reduce the cost for them when making investment amid COVID-19 outbreak. The cut will continue to be effective until the country make further announcement. After that, the commission will adjust the fees.
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  The actual inflow of foreign direct investment (FDI) are lower despite government increased in approving foreign investments during the period between October and March of current financial year

  Despite a huge increase in approved foreign investments from US$1.9 billion to $3.3 billion during the period between October 2019 and March 2020, the actual inflow of foreign direct investments (FDI) are lower. At $500 million, the inflow of investment in the first quarter of the year fell short of last year’s $800 million, said U Aung Naing Oo, permanent secretary of the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations (MIFER). “My concern is that although more investment was approved, the actual inflow of FDI will be a challenge for us,” he said during an AustCham Myanmar webinar last Wednesday.
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  Myanmar’s trade deficit increased more than USD $ 1.4 billion over the half of months of current financial year

  Myanmar’s trade gap significantly increased over the half of the current financial year to more than US$1.4 billion from $422.29 million registered in the corresponding period of the 2018-2019FY, according to the data provided by the Ministry of Commerce. Between 1 October and 17 April in the current fiscal, Myanmar’s external trade has increased to over $2155 billion from $18.74 billion recorded in the year-ago period. While exports were estimated at $9.86 billion, imports were valued at $11.29 billion. Compared to the previous fiscal, exports showed an increase of $703.7 million, while imports climbed up by $1.7 billion. Myanmar exports agricultural products, animal products, minerals, forest products, and finished industrial goods, while it imports capital goods, intermediate goods, CMP raw materials, and consumer goods.
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  Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population announced list of essential businesses in Myanmar

  The Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population on May 3 announced a list of 21 businesses which need to continue operations during the COVID-19 outbreak as they provide either essential, public or necessary services.
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  Economist urged Government’s COVID – 19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) should focus on agriculture, livestock sectors which will affect longer than food security

  Economists said the government's COVID-19 Economic Relief Plan (CERP) should focus more on essential sectors such as agriculture and livestock, which affects longer term food security. The CERP was announced on April 27 to mitigate the negative impact of COVID-19 on the economy. “Myanmar is an agricultural country so we should support these sectors to be prepared for a recovery in foreign demand,” said garment business owner U Tun Tun. As the agriculture and livestock breeding businesses are ready to operate and also have a secure workforce, these sectors should be prioritised when allocating funds under the CERP, others suggested.
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  Due to the impact of coronavirus pandemic on the market in Myanmar, China has dealt a cruel blow to tea growers from the Ta’ang ethnic group in Shan State

  The closure of the border with China and many teashops in Myanmar’s biggest cities has sent prices crashing for green tea grown in northern Shan State. The two-month tea harvest is about to end in the picturesque hills of northern Shan State, but the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on the market in Myanmar and China has dealt a cruel blow to tea growers from the Ta’ang ethnic group. The growers, members of the Ta’ang ethnic group – often called Palaung in Burmese – are offering to sell green tea for between K6,000 and K7,000 a viss (1.63 kilograms), but buyers are scarce, said Mai Yan Naing, who has a tea plantation in Kyaukme Township. Demand has slumped because of uncertainty over the pandemic, Yan Naing told Frontier.
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  Only 20 companies out of 200 companies qualified for getting access to Myanmar Government’s emergency COVID funds

  Of the 200 companies eligible to receive a government COVID-19 soft loan, just 20 qualify for funding of more than K100 million. These included firms in manufacturing, trading and industry. Out of the 70 tourism and hotel-related companies that qualified for financing, just one, Inle Princess, was eligible for a loan of K100 million and above. The remaining businesses were able to access smaller loans. Critics pointed out the companies that qualified for the larger loans have connections with the Ministry of Hotel and Tourism. “We don’t know how they are processing these loans. Some of the names of eligible hotels and tourism companies did not qualify. As this is a government loan, more transparency is needed and we would like to see the funds end up with those who truly need it,” said Daw Sabei Aung, managing director of Nature Dream Tourism