Myanmar Morning News For June 30

Ten prioritised sectors announced for investors
Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) has recently extended an invitation to local and foreign investors to invest in 10 prioritised sectors.
– The Myanmar Times

A glance at property market in Yangon
Yangon, once famous as the seat of government, has turned itself into economic hub of the country, and is home to nearly seven million people.
– Global New Light of Myanmar

Minister admits bribery exists in government departments
The government is aware that bribes are being demanded by certain officials from members of the public who come to offices seeking forms and letters of recommendations when applying for jobs, said U Thein Swe, Union Minister for the Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population.
– The Myanmar Times

China owns 44% of external debt: MP
Loan contracts with China should be reviewed and debt relief negotiated to cut the burden on the economy, according to Khin San Hlaing, MP for Pale.
– Eleven Myanmar

Mandalay port to facilitate regional and Chinese trade via waterway
Developers of Mandalay port will begin the construction work in November 2018, according to the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River (DWIR).
– The Myanmar Times

Turning on the Lights in Rural Myanmar
The late afternoon breeze brings the village of Sai Pyun out— children race each other on bikes, weaving through neighbors fetching water in metal jugs on their heads or yellow plastic tanks carried on their shoulders, and through strutting hens and their chicks pecking at feed on dusty, sun-cracked roads.
– Global New Light of Myanmar

Belt and Road should not dictate infrastructure priorities: Melvyn Pun
Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) should not dictate Myanmar’s infrastructure priorities despite the importance of Chinese finance, according to the head of Yoma Strategic.
– The Myanmar Times

Torrential rain destroys more than 600 farmland acres in Bago
Torrential rain destroyed more than 600 acres of farmland in Thekon Township, Pyay District, the northern part of Bago Region on June 28.
– Eleven Myanmar

Falling Chinese demand sours sugar market
Sugar is being stockpiled for potential export due to low demand from China, according to sugar merchants in Mandalay.
– Eleven Myanmar

Grab is adding Myanmar’s Wave Money to its mobile wallet
Ride-hailing and mobile payments startup Grab is partnering with Wave Money in Myanmar.
– Tech in Asia

Myanmar, Cambodia to launch joint tourism action plan
Tourism authorities of Myanmar and Cambodia will launch a joint action plan aimed at boosting tourism industry of the two countries, the Myanmar Ministry of Hotels and Tourism said on Thursday.
– Global Times

Culture Ministry to Nominate Bagan, Mrauk U, Shwedagon for UNESCO Recognition
The Union minister of religious affairs and culture U Aung Ko said his ministry plans to nominate Arakan State’s Mrauk U and Shwedagon Pagoda for UNESCO’s list of culturally significant sites after Bagan.
– The Irrawaddy

Rakhine parliament accepts new-town proposal
A proposal to the Rakhine State parliament that calls for implementation of a new town in Mrauk U Township has been accepted.
– Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar workers from Thailand return Myawady
Thousands of Myanmar workers from Thailand arrived back in Myawady started from yesterday morning through 999 gate of Myawady.
– Global New Light of Myanmar

Maungdaw told to expect attacks
Villagers in Maungdaw are being asked by the Rakhine State chief minister to increase security and take action against alleged Bengali militants.
– Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar Says it Will Not Grant Visas for UN Fact-finding Mission on Rakhine
Myanmar doubled down Thursday on its refusal to cooperate with United Nations’ efforts to investigate reported army atrocities in the strife-ridden western state of Rakhine, with the foreign ministry saying it has ordered the country’s embassies not to issue visas to UN investigators.
– Radio Free Asia

Feature photo Eddy Milfort
Find our previous morning news feature photos in the AEC News Today Morning News Feature Photos gallery where you will find a pictorial display of daily life throughout the Asean Economic Community (AEC).

Myanmar morning news by AEC News Today is your one stop source for Myanmar news on matters of governance and policies affecting Asean business communities. It is published M-F by AEC News Today: Governance, not government; policies not politics.