Myanmar morning news for March 11, 2019

Eye on EU tax, Myanmar cuts exports of long-grain rice
In spite of the European Union imposing a tax on imports of long-grain rice, Myanmar’s rice exports to the EU have not declined as traders are shipping rice varieties that don’t fall in the new tax bracket, according to the Myanmar Rice Federation (MRF).
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Marine exports up $26 mln in five months
MYANMAR earned about US$364 million from the export of fisheries products in the first five months of the 2018-2019 fiscal year, increasing by $26 million from the corresponding period last 2017-2018 FY, according to official figures issued by the Ministry of Commerce.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Rice and broken rice exports expected to decline
From April 1, 2018 to March, 2019, Myanmar’s rice and broken rice exports are expected to reach about 2.3 million tons, down about 1.2 million tons compared with the same period last year.
— Eleven Myanmar

Greenovator leads the trend in Myanmar’s agri-technology
AMID surging demand for technology in Myanmar’s agriculture sector which involves a majority of its population, young entrepreneurs at Greenovator Co have set their heart on playing a leading role in the nation’s agri-tech, according to Yin Yin Phyu, the firm’s co-founder and director of operations.
— The Nation (very annoying popup)

Attack on Myanmar-Bangladesh border construction work
Security forces stationed to supervise Myanmar-Bangladesh border fencing work in Buthidaung township in Myanmar’s Rakhine state came under attack from the Arakan Army (AA), an ethnic armed group, officials said on Sunday.
— SME Times

AYA Bank to sue debtors for funds used to run YBS bus lines
Ayeyarwady (AYA) Bank is planning to sue its debtors for failing to repay funds borrowed to operate bus lines under the Yangon Bus Service (YBS), which began operations in January 2017.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s gems emporium to kick off in capital city
The 56th Myanmar Gems Emporium is due to kick off in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw today, expecting to attract over 2,600 gems merchants from China, Thailand, Australia and the United States (US), according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation yesterday.
— Borneo Bulletin

Rakhine rebels kill nine in fresh strike on Myanmar police: Official
Arakan Army insurgents killed nine Myanmar police in the latest attack in the country’s western Rakhine State, a local official said on Sunday, as clashes threaten to engulf a large part of the troubled region.
— Times now news

Xinhua world news summary at 0830 GMT, March 10
At least nine people were injured, including the train machinist and two children, as a commuter train derailed in Bogor district of West Java province in Indonesia on Sunday, officials said.
— China.org

NYDC receives 77 EoI letters for six infrastructure projects
New Yangon Development Company (NYDC) received 77 Expression of Interest (EoI) letters submitted by 45 local and foreign companies submitted for six infrastructure projects for development of the New Yangon City Phase 1, according to the weekly blog of NYDC CEO U Thein Wai.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s gems emporium to kick off in capital city
The 56th Myanmar Gems Emporium is due to kick off in the capital city of Nay Pyi Taw on Monday, expecting to attract over 2,600 gems merchants from China, Thailand, Australia and the United States, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation on Sunday.
— Xinhua

World Financial institution approves $165M for Rohingya in Bangladesh
The World Bank (WB) has approved $165 million to help Bangladesh provide relief to Rohingya refugees in the country, the bank said in a statement.
— Brinkwire

UN picks Norwegian for Myanmar role
The United Nations named a new interim UN resident coordinator for Myanmar on Tuesday, appointing Knut Ostby of Norway to take over the humanitarian role at a time of growing strains with the Myanmar government over the handling of the Rohingya crisis.
— Lakeland Observer

Commercially proven gas reserves found in offshore Zawtika field
PTTEP Myanmar Asset, a subsidiary of Bangkok-based PTT Exploration and Production, has found commercially proven gas reserves at the M9 block of the Zawtika project located 300km southwest of Yangon in the Gulf of Mottama.
— Myanmar Times

Residential property market showing signs of life
Clearer rules on residential property ownership for foreigners and the availability of housing loans is helping support the property market.
— Myanmar Times

Halt Land Law Implementation – HRW
The Myanmar government should immediately suspend implementation of a law requiring claims to be made by March 11, 2019 under the Vacant, Fallow, Virgin (VLV) land management law, Human Rights Watch has said in a statement.
— Mizzima

China denies money offer for refugees to return
China has not offered Rohingya refugees money to repatriate to Myanmar, a Chinese Embassy attaché in Dhaka told BenarNews, after the news outlet reported that a delegation of officials from Beijing had promised refugee families up to U.S. $6,000 each if they returned to Rakhine state, according to RFA.
— Mizzima

Mandalay to hold international trade fair
Myanmar’s second largest city of Mandalay will hold an international trade fair and business forum on March 23 to attract foreign entrepreneurs to invest and do business in the city, according to Xinhua.
— Mizzima

Unity Needed for Effective Constitutional Reform
Welcome to Dateline Irrawaddy. We will discuss efforts in constitutional amendments this week. A constitutional amendment committee has been formed at the Union Parliament.
— The Irrawaddy

How WWII shaped the crisis in Myanmar
Last month the United Nations and its partners appealed for $920 million to assist nearly one million Rohingya refugees now encamped in Bangladesh. These refugees are fleeing the violence in the northern part of the Rakhine state in Myanmar.
— Washington Post

Myanmar national found drowned after waterfall mishap
The body of a Myanmar national was found between some rocks at a waterfall at Bayan Lepas, Penang.
— The Star Online

Renewed fears of mass displacement as land deadline nears
Farmers and displaced communities are in a state of high anxiety as the deadline set by the government’s controversial land law amendment takes effect today with no sign of change.
— Myanmar Times

Promoting the role of medical social work and medicare
Medical social work is a social service for those who are hospitalized in state-owned hospitals and who are facing socio-medical difficulties that are required to be solved with the help of medical social workers. The service is a small unit known as the Medical Aid Unit under the Department of Medical Services, Ministry of Health and Sports.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

New bridge expected to open in Mongshu in September
A reinforced concrete bridge is being built by the Ministry of Construction in Mongshu Township, Loilin District, Shan State (South), for the convenience of pedestrians, auto and truck traffic.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Feature photo Yoshitaka Ando

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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.