Myanmar morning news for July 16

China-led port project inches ahead in Myanmar
Myanmar’s US$1.3 billion Kyaukphyu deep-sea port project, a China-backed scheme under Beijing’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), is one small step closer to realization.
— Asia Times

Forest sector generates tax revenue of Ks 700 bln in two FY
The government earned a tax revenue of Ks around 700 billion from the forest sector in 2014-2015 FY and 2015-2016 FY, according to the report by Myanmar Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (MEITI).
— Eleven Myanmar

Fishery exports top $610 mln in current fiscal
Export earnings from the fisheries sector crossed US$611.56 million between 1 October and 5 July in the current FY from $568.32 million in the corresponding period of the previous fiscal, according to statistics released by the Commerce Ministry.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

What the Recent Military Shake-Ups Really Mean
As Snr-Gen Min Aung Hlaing grooms his juniors, who is likeliest to take his place when he steps down, and what do recent military shake-ups mean for the 2020 elections?
— Irrawaddy

Bean export earnings increase over 280 m USD over nine months
Over nine months of this fiscal year, Myanmar exported over 1.2 million tons of bean and pulses, up over 400,000 million tons compared with the same period last year, according to an official of the Commerce Ministry.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar looks to fund grid investment with huge electricity rate hike
Myanmar has increased its electricity rates this month for both residents and businesses for the first time in five years in a move designed to fund investment in the sector and meet rising demand.
— Power Technology

Court proceedings begin against Myanmar child rape suspect
A court in Myanmar has begun proceedings against a suspect in the rape of a 2-year-old girl at her nursery school, in a case that has generated huge interest and protests, partly because of doubts that the arrested man is guilty.
— Whig

Kayah State to get US$50 million metal refinery
A Myanmar-China joint venture will be building a metal refinery worth US$50 million located in Myanmar’s eastern Kayah State’s capital of Loikaw.
— Myanmar Times

Train accidents kills 58, injury 55 in six months
Till June of this year, there were 58 train-related deaths and 55 injuries, according to the figures from Myanmar Railways.
— Eleven Myanmar

Chinese tourists flock to U Bein Bridge, irritating locals
Near Taung Min Gyi pagoda, a girl is collecting toilet fees, shouting “K200 for one person or K400 for two!” in the Chinese language at those who are queuing in front of the toilet, where the fee is also posted on a sign in Chinese, near U Bein Bridge in Amarapura township, Mandalay Region.
— Myanmar Times

More than 23,000 affected by flooding so far in July
More than 23,000 people have been affected by floods as a result of heavy rains across Myanmar so far this month, according to the Disaster Management Department.
— Myanmar Times

Dutch development bank FMO to invest $13.5m in Myanmar’s Mandalay city
Dutch development bank FMO has proposed a €12-million ($13.5 million) investment to help develop Mandalay City, Myanmar’s second-largest city, through the Mandalay City Development Committee, according to a disclosure.
— Deal Street Asia

Military to Investigative In-Custody Deaths in Rakhine
The military says it has formed a team to investigate some of the civilian deaths that have occurred in its custody in the war-torn state, amid mounting criticism.
— Irrawaddy

What the Recent Military Shake-Ups Really Mean
Recent military reshuffling and further upcoming shakeups are related to the 2020 general elections in Myanmar, and the military will undergo more calculated reshuffling in the future—expectedly before the year is out.
— Irrawaddy

“It’s your fault!” – Rape in Myanmar
“Traffickers target youths who have bad reputations or low moral character more than youths who don’t understand.” This is what Myanmar’s Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Director General U Win Naing Tun was quoted as saying recently when talking about human trafficking.
— The Asean Post

Monsoon flooding forces thousands from their homes in Myanmar
Days of heavy monsoon rain and dangerously high river levels in Myanmar have forced more than 18,000 people from their homes and flooded at least one camp for people displaced by recent fighting, authorities and a politician said on Monday (Jul 15).
— Channel NewsAsia

Who will fight internet lies in Myanmar?
There are organisations demoting misinformation on Facebook in some Asian nations but not in Myanmar and that needs to change.
— Frontier Myanmar

Fisheries Dept must ban imports of Thai shrimps: farmers’ body
The Myanmar Shrimp Farming and Production Association has called for a ban on entry of shrimp larvae from Thailand into the country, saying that if imports continue, the Myanmar shrimp species will disappear from the market.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Embankments along Mone creek to be completed soon
The construction of three embankments along the Mone creek will be completed soon, according to the Magway Region’s Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Indian Torpedoes Delivered to Myanmar Navy
The torpedoes were part of a $37.9 million export deal signed in 2017.
— Irrawaddy

Aid provided to flood victims in upper Myanmar
Nearly 1,700 people from 556 households in Hsinbo, Myitkyina District, Kachin State, have been evacuated from areas flooded by the swollen Ayeyawady River. The water level in the river crossed the danger mark of 307 cm on 14 July and inundated low-lying areas of the town.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

First ever android developers conference in Yangon
Each room is filled with software enthusiasts and newcomers who want to find out new information in the technology sector. They are spending their whole day catching up on cutting-edge trends in the real business world and reaching out to software developers both from local and global leading technology companies such as Google, LINE, Nexlabs and Wave Money.
— Mizzima

Constitution Amendment Committee Returns Nearly 4,000 Recommendations
After months of meetings, Parliament’s Charter Amendment Committee put forward more than 3,700 recommended constitutional changes. The military rejected all of them.
— Irrawaddy

Vice C-in-C of Defence Services receives UN Secretary General’s Special Envoy
Deputy Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services, Commander-in-Chief (Army) Vice-Senior General Soe Win received the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Mrs Christine Schraner Burgener yesterday at the Bayintnaung Guest House in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Deadly monsoon destroys 5,000 shelters in Bangladesh refugee camps
At least 10 people have died and thousands of shanty homes have been destroyed by monsoon rains in overcrowded Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladesh’s southeast, officials said Sunday.
— Mizzima

Second Amyotha Hluttaw’s 13th regular session holds first day meeting
The 13th regular session of Second Amyotha Hluttaw held its first-day meeting at the Amyotha Hluttaw meeting hall yesterday morning. At the meeting a new Tatmadaw Amyotha Hluttaw representative was sworn-in, Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker delivers a welcoming speech, five asterisk marked questions on construction sector were raised and answered and a bill.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Vessel laden with charcoal capsizes in Chindwin River
A cargo ship loaded with charcoal from the Htoo Han Thit company capsized on the morning of 15 July in the Chindwin River near Shwekyin Village in Kalewa Township of Sagaing Region.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Human Rights Group Claims RCSS Violations Against Ta’ang
The Ta’ang Human Rights Network said in a press release it has documented more then 170 victims of human rights by the RCSS.
— Irrawaddy

Thanakha maker putting new face on an ancient tradition
Thanakha, the ubiquitous yellowish paste seen on the faces and arms of young and old Myanmar people alike, has been used in the country for centuries to protect against the harsh tropical sun, to make skin smooth and to remove acne.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar nationals in USA will stage protests
A demonstration will be held in front of the Singapore and Myanmar embassies in Washington D.C, U.S.A on 15 July in support of the six Arakanese people who were deported from Singapore to Myanmar.
— BNI Online

Pernod buys 34% stake in Myanmar whisky joint venture
French drinks group Pernod Ricard has completed its acquisition of a 34% stake in Seagram MM Holdings, a joint venture designed to produce and distribute whisky in Myanmar.
— The Spirits Business

U.S. Firms May Get Nod to Restart Huawei Sales in Two-Four weeks: Official
Trump’s reversal, and rapid implementation by the Commerce Department, suggests chip industry lobbying, coupled with Chinese political pressure, may have paid off.
— Irrawaddy

State Counsellor receives UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy
State Counsellor and Union Minister for Foreign Affairs Daw Aung San Suu Kyi received the United Nations Secretary-General’s Special Envoy on Myanmar Mrs Christine Schraner Burgener at 4:00 pm on 15 July 2019 at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Celebrations Scheduled for Yangon U Centennial Run-Up
From this December to next, As Yangon University turns 100 years old, a series of discussions, exhibits, gatherings, lectures, dinners, musical recitals and more are being planned.
— Irrawaddy

Union Election Commission office holds Waso robes offering ceremony in Nay Pyi Taw
The Office of the Union Election Commission held 7th Waso robe offering ceremony at the hall of UEC office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Chairman of UEC U Hla Thein and his wife Daw Aye Thida, members of UEC and staff from UEC office donated Waso robes and offertories to members of Sangha.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Indian Torpedoes Delivered to Myanmar Navy
The torpedoes were part of a $37.9 export deal signed in 2017.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo Holidify

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focuses on Asalha Puja, July 16.

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.