Myanmar dead bottom among ASEAN countries in ease of doing business
Myanmar has been at the bottom of the list of 10 ASEAN countries in the ease of doing business ranking, according to a 2019 Doing Business in Myanmar report.
— Eleven Media
Myanmar makes efforts to strengthen kyat against USD
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) is making efforts to raise the value of kyat and prevent dollarization by making use of Myanmar currency compulsory for all transactions across the country to make the kyat stronger and to curb illegal hoarding of money, CBM Deputy Governor U Bo Bo Nge said.
— Xinhua
When it comes to ICERD, neighbours Malaysia, Myanmar, Brunei of same mind
None of them have committed to eventually complying with the United Nations’ (UN) International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination (ICERD).
— Yahoo News
Myanmar’s remaining rohingya face choice of persecution at home or risky trip abroad
The plight of more than 100 Rohingya from Myanmar rescued at sea last week after their boat was stranded en route to Malaysia highlights the lengths to which members of the Muslim minority group are willing to go to in order to escape the hardship they face in internally displaced persons camps.
— Radio Free Asia
Industry signs agreement on helping to boost automotive sector
The European Chamber of Commerce Myanmar (EuroCham) and local industry organisation Myanmar Automotive Group (MAG) have signed an agreement to cooperate on efforts to advocate for a stronger automotive industry in Myanmar.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar tops poor nations’ FDI league as China cash flows in
Myanmar attracted the most foreign direct investment of any of the world’s so-called “least developed countries” in 2017, even as the nation’s reputation plummeted over its forced expulsion of tens of thousands of Rohingya Muslims.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)
Citizen investments hit over K17,813 billion
Until October this year, the total citizen investments reached over K17,813 billion, according to the figures released by Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).
— Eleven Media
Trade between Myanmar and Japan topped US$1billion in the mini-budget period
The value of trade between Myanmar and development partner Japan topped US$1billion in the mini-budget period (April to September this year), according to data released by the Ministry of Commerce, state media reported.
— mizzima.com
Foreigner income tax collection extremely weak: MP
Income tax collection from expats working in Myanmar are largely exempted while regulations are weak, turning tax collection into an exercise imposed only on citizens, said Lower House MP Myo Win from Mon State Constituency-8.
— Eleven Media
CSOs allege corruption by judge, lawyer, police in Mindat
A judge, lawyer and three police officers from Chin State’s Mindat Township have been reported to Burma’s anti-corruption commission.
— BNI
MIC chair U Thaung Tun to lead new foreign economic relations ministry
Myanmar Investment Commission chair U Thaung Tun will lead a new Ministry for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations that will be formed from two existing departments, as parliamentarians ask whether another ministry is really needed.
— Myanmar Times
Chin Christians stripped of refugee status, may be forced to return to face persecution in Myanmar
Ethnic Chin (mainly Christian) refugees scattered across Malaysia and India, have lost their refugee status and are faced with returning to Buddhist-majority Myanmar (Burma) where they risk discrimination and military attack.
— Barnabus Fund
Farmer killed in ethnic group fighting in Shan
A woman has been shot dead by armed men last week in a village in Lashio township of Shan State, where two armed ethnic groups have engaged in sporadic clashes since last month.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar’s government won a landslide victory in 2015. It may not be so lucky next time
Myanmar’s de facto leader Aung San Suu Kyi led her political party to a landslide victory three years ago, ending decades of military-backed rule and raising hopes for democracy.
— CNBC
China provides aid to IDPs in Kachin State
The Chinese embassy in Myanmar Tuesday provided humanitarian assistance to displaced persons in Kachin state, Xinhua reported.
— mizzima.com
Opposition MP criticises work of social media monitor
An MP of the opposition Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) questioned the effectiveness of Myanmar’s Social Media Monitoring Team in the Hluttaw (parliament) on Tuesday.
— Myanmar Times
Falam airport to provide services in 2021
About 40 per cent of construction for Falam (Surbung) airport project including an earth retaining wall has finished and will be functional starting in 2021, according to Department for Civil Aviation under the Ministry of Transportation and Communications.
— Eleven Media
New ministry, ‘single-window’ system to help investors do business
Myanmar is tuning up efforts to draw investments into the country … paving the way for better coordination between related ministries and organisations on local and foreign investments and development projects implemented with foreign aid or loans.
— Myanmar Times
Rights panel looks into suspect’s death at police station
The Myanmar National Human Rights Commission is investigating the death of a taxi driver while being detained at Yangon’s Thanlyin township police station for questioning about a robbery, an official said on Tuesday.
— Myanmar Times
Rangers seize ‘drug ingredients’ on Myanmar border
Paramilitary rangers from the Pha Muang task force have seized 90 litres of suspicious chemical liquid on the Myanmar border.
— The Nation
Art exhibition by Chinese artists launched in Myanmar’s Yangon
An art exhibition by Chinese artists was launched in Myanmar’ Yangon Wednesday as part of China-Myanmar culture exchange program.
— Xinhua
Massive amounts of particles detected in Letpadaung copper mining project
Excessive amounts of particles were detected in the south of Letpadaung copper mining project in Salingyi Township in Yinmarbin District in Sagaing Region, said Kyaw Soe Lin, assistant director of Sagaing Region Environmental Conservation Department.
— Eleven Myanmar
How a Myanmar community dealt with harmful mining development
The video focuses on the story of the Heinda tin mine in Myanmar. Since 2008, pollution from the Heinda mine has contaminated water supplies in nearby villages, with villagers reporting health problems and damage to their farmlands.
— UCA News (video)
Why is Myanmar angry? This book goes looking for answers
Writer and editor Abhijit Dutta travelled across Myanmar to write his account.
— Scroll In (book excerpt)
Authorities plan to allow foreigners to visit Zalon Taung Pagoda
Although the number of local pilgrims in Zalon Taung Pagoda has increased significantly in recent years, nearby areas of Banmauk Township are restricted for foreign tourists, said Aung Thu Oo, regional head of Hotel and Tourism Department.
— Eleven Media
In Myanmar, #MeToo opens up conversation on sexual harassment
When Nandar was just seven years old she was sexually harassed.
— Yahoo News
Flymya set to ride tech growth wave
As more people in Myanmar become aware of the benefits brought by technology, Flymya.com – the nation’s leading one-stop travel portal owned by local investment firm BOD Tech Co – is eyeing bigger growth in the years ahead.
— Eleven Media
Ministry says private schools not its bailiwick
The Ministry of Education cannot vouch for the academic certificates issued by private schools and higher learning institutions, Minister of Education U Myo Thein Gyi said.
— Myanmar Times
School becomes 23rd building on heritage list
The Yangon Basic Education High School No. 2 in Dagon Township has been designated a heritage building, based on its beautiful blend of western and traditional Myanmar architecture.
— Myanmar Times
Authorities expect to finish Yangon-Taungoo railroad upgrading work within four years
The upgrading process of Yangon-Taungoo railroad, which is a part of Yangon-Mandalay railroad, is expected to finish within a four-year time, according to Myanma Railways (MR).
— Eleven Media
Orbis flying eye hospital to visit Myanmar next year
U.S based Orbis flying hospital will come to Myanmar in September, 2019 to provide eye care services, according to Ministry of Health and Sports. Program manager from the Orbis flying hospital met with Union Minister for Health and Sports at Nay Pyi Taw on November 15 to provide better eye care services in Myanmar.
— Eleven Media
Cardinal Charles Bo of Myanmar new president of FABC
Myanmar’s first cardinal has been elected the next president of the Federation of Asian Bishops’ Conferences (FABC).
— Vatican News
Shwe Nan Daw restoration enters new phase
Renovation of the stairs at Shwe Nan Daw monastery, a popular tourist attraction in Mandalay Region, will begin in January in the next phase of the historic temple’s restoration, said the project director.
— Myanmar Times
Ms. Azamara Quest cruise ship pays a four-day visit to Myanmar
Ms. Azamara Quest cruise ship from the United States arrived in Thilawa port, Yangon on November 18 to pay a four-day visit, according to Myanma Port Authority (MPA).
— Eleven Media
Sri Ksetra: UNESCO treasure to discover on a short break from Yangon
Amid the furor over Bagan’s precarious application for UNESCO World Heritage listing this year, it shouldn’t be forgotten that Myanmar already has one World Heritage site.
— The Irrawaddy
Myanmar hold Vietnam to goalless draw
Myanmar and Vietnam added one more point each after the goalless draw in their group-A match of the AFF Suzuki Cup 2018 at Thuwunna stadium in Yangon yesterday.
— Myanmar Times
Feature photo Bagus Setyawan/Oxfam
This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo acknowledges World Toilet Day November 19
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.
Myanmar morning news for November 22 added by Mark Roy on
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A a professional photographer since the days of film, he holds a Bachelor of Arts in Photomedia and a Postgraduate Diploma in Journalism.
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