Myanmar morning news for May 21

Terrified Central Bank Attempts to Arrest Myanmar’s Bitcoin Binge
An emerging economy which expects to attract $5.8 billion worth of Foreign Direct Investments is belittling its goals with an anti-technology stance.
— CCN

China’s CNPC breaks into Myanmar fuel retailing with Singapore brand
China National Petroleum Corp is planning to open dozens of petrol stations in Myanmar, the first major foreign investor to enter the fast-growing Southeast Asian fuel market, as the state giant expands its retail oil business, company officials said.
— Reuters

Foreign bank subsidiaries allowed to provide retail services
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) will allow foreign banks to open branches in the country to help local businesses gain access to financing, deputy governor U Soe Thein said during a press conference on May 17.
— Myanmar Times

Smart meter project said to reduce power outages, but approval needed
Yangon city wants to roll out state-of-the-art smart meters to control the electricity supply, monitor its usage and bill consumers in one automated system, said U Myo Aung, founder of Ever Company.
— Myanmar Times

Five From China Charged Over Illegal Banana Plantation in Myanmar Protected Forest
The forestry department of Myanmar’s Kachin state has filed charges against five Chinese nationals and their company manager for allegedly expanding a banana plantation into protected forests, village administrative and police officials said Monday.
— Radio Free Asia

New 145 MW power plant opens in Kyaukse
A power plant capable of producing 145 Megawatts of power opened in Belin, Kyuakse Township in Mandalay on May 17.
— Myanmar Times

China vital to Myanmar’s peace, progress
Amid rapidly changing Asian dynamics and news reports on claimed civilization clashes, China hosted the Conference on Dialogue of Asian Civilizations (CDAC) last week. How should we refute such a claim as the “clash of civilizations?
–Mizzima

Myanmar to establish diplomatic ties with 3 African nations
Myanmar will establish diplomatic ties with three African nations, the Union Minister for International Cooperation told the Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (Assembly of the Union).
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar gears up investment promotion with ‘bold’ plan
THOUGH some international companies are still in a wait-and-see mood before pouring their money into Myanmar, the nation remains confident that it can attract heavy investment this year, thanks to its ambitious Myanmar Investment Promotion Plan (MIPP).
— The Phnom Penh Post

Three Myanmar workers die in Malaysia
Three suspected illegal migrant workers died and seven others were injured in a road accident in Malaysia on Sunday, according to a Myanmar charity group in Kuala Lumpur.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar to celebrate centenary of its film industry
Myanmar is preparing to organize a grand centenary celebration of its motion picture industry on Oct. 13, according to the Information Ministry.
— China.org

Myanmar-China Business Association launched
The Myanmar-China Business Association was launched the residence of the Chinese Ambassador in Yangon yesterday. The Chinese Ambassador, Mr. Hong Liang, first spoke on the active cooperation between the two countries on the Belt and Road Initiative and how it ties in to the development and
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

New 145 MW power plant opens in Kyaukse
A power plant capable of producing 145 Megawatts of power opened in Belin, Kyuakse Township in Mandalay on May 17.
— Myanmar Times

Oversea Works Management Committee holds coord meeting 1/2019 in Nay Pyi Taw
Oversea Works Management Committee of Ministry of Labour, Immigration and Population held coordination meeting 1/2019 at the meeting hall of the ministry yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Malaria cases down by 86 percent in Myanmar with U.S. support
Myanmar is making major progress toward its goal of eliminating malaria in the country by 2030, in part because of US support, according to the US Embassy.
— Mizzima

Myanmar Jails 24 Anti-India North-East Militants Arrested By Its Army While Combing Operation Continues
As many as 24 militants from Assam and Manipur were sentenced to two years of imprisonment by a district court in Myanmar after charging them under the country’s Unlawful Association Act, reports Times of India.
— swarajyamag

Union LIP Minister inspects Namhkam, Muse border immigration gates
U Thein Swe, Union Minister for Labour, Immigration and Population, inspected Naung Tein immigration outpost in Namhkam Township and Mahn Wein inspection camp in Muse Township in Northern Shan State on 18 May.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

UN refugee chief visits Myanmar this week
The UN High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, began his five-day visit to Myanmar this morning. This is the first visit by the head of the UN Refugee Agency to Myanmar since August 2017.
— UNHCR

Five Chinese Arrested for Trespassing, Illegal Immigration in Kachin
A further five locals were arrested for trespassing on protected land as authorities crack down on illegal China-owned banana plantations in Kachin State.
— Irrawaddy

UN mission urges monetary isolation of Myanmar’s army
A United Nations fact-finding mission urged Tuesday that countries cut off all business with Myanmar’s military as part of efforts to hold the army accountable for human rights abuses.
— Infosurhoy

Mon lead the way in mother tongue education
The government and ethnic groups in revolt against it have run parallel education systems for decades. Mon educators now seek recognition for their mother tongue-based system, while the government slowly brings ethnic languages into classrooms.
— Frontier Myanmar

Joint venture to carry out water supply and waste project
A joint venture company will carry out water supply and sewage water treatment projects nationwide, state media reported.
— Mizzima

TIDE opens 3rd Residential School in Yangon University
Yangon University held a ceremony for the opening of the 3rd Residential School by TIDE (Transformation by Innovation in Distance Education) at its Scientific Research Building yesterday morning. Union Minister for Education, Dr. Myo Thein Gyi, spoke at the opening ceremony.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar: Chinese Gangsters Gone Wild
May 20, 2019: In Bangladesh the UN began issuing ID cards to Rohingya refugees in mid-2018 and so far have issued the IDs to about a third of the 740,000 Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh.
— Strategy page

Myanmar to celebrate motion picture industry
Myanmar is preparing to organize a grand centenary celebration of its motion picture industry on Oct. 13, Xinhua reported.
— Mizzima

Govt. takes steps to bring Phakant region migrant workers back on their feet
A coordination meeting on rehabilitation of Phakant region migrant workers was held at the Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement yesterday morning. The meeting was attended by Union Minister for Home Affairs Lt-Gen Kyaw Swe, Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Bangladesh, Myanmar and Vietnam’s blossoming investment potential
Frontier Asian economies are underpinned by some of the fastest GDP growth rates in the world, while favourable population dynamics are providing an added tailwind. This is translating into attractive investment opportunities across a range of companies, many of which are yet to be uncovered by mainstream investors.
— The Assert

Joint Committee on amending 2008 Constitution holds meeting 15/2019
Meeting 15/2019 of the Joint Committee on amending the 2008 Constitution was held at Pyidaungsu Hluttaw Building D in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday afternoon.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Plan Bee

This week’s morning news photo features World Bee Day, May 20.

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.