Myanmar morning news for January 23, 2020

Myanmar manufacturers oppose potential wage hike
Garment manufacturers will conduct surveys of their own to determine whether workers are justified in calling for a substantial raise to the national living wage, according to the Myanmar Garment Manufacturers Association.
— Ecotextile

China and Myanmar to build new deep-sea port
A new deep-sea port will form the core of a new economic partnership between China and Myanmar after the two countries struck a series of infrastructure deals as part of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
— Pottechnology

KBZ takes Yangon port operator to court over massive debts
KBZ Bank is suing the owner of Myanmar Industrial Port over alleged unpaid debts of more than US$200 million, in a case that is symptomatic of the problems facing the country’s leading banks as they seek to resolve legacy non-performing loans.
— Frontier Myanmar

Energy sector tops the FDI list with over $538 m
Till December of 2019-2020 fiscal year, the total foreign investments in 12 business sectors reached 1.164 billion US dollars with the inflow of over 538 million US dollars in the energy sector topping the list, according to the Directorate of Investments and Company Administration (DICA).
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s Army to Take Legal Action Against Soldiers Accused of Rights Violations in Rakhine
Myanmar’s military announced Wednesday that it will take legal action against servicemen accused of committing war crimes during a 2017 crackdown on Rohingya Muslim communities in northern Rakhine state following the issuance of a report by a government-appointment commission that conducted an investigation into the accusations.
— Radio Free Asia

How Myanmar’s government passed up two chances to address human rights while on trial for genocide
Myanmar’s domestic investigation has concluded the military didn’t commit genocide. The announcement fits with the government’s recent refusal to mend its broken National Human Rights Commission.
— Asean Today

China-Myanmar Ties to Reshape Geopolitics of Indian Ocean Region
he flags of China and Myanmar waved side by side along the roads of Myanmar’s capital city over the weekend, as Chinese Paramount Leader Xi Jinping visited the Buddhist-majority nation to draw it more tightly into China’s orbit.
— The Trumpet

Myanmar’s Ethnic Political Parties See Little Local Benefit From China-Backed Projects
Some of Myanmar’s ethnic political parties on Wednesday shared problem over prospective adverse influences of China’s prepared multibillion-dollar mega-projects in their areas, days after both nations’ leaders authorized greater than 30 memorandums of comprehending pertaining to the offers.
— The Union Journal

Myanmar rebels free MP held hostage for 2 months
Ethnic minority rebels in Myanmar have released a lawmaker held hostage for two months, in a bid to reduce tensions in the war-torn western state of Rakhine, a human rights group and the rebels said.
— The Straits Times

Fighting for LGBT rights in Myanmar with a ‘pink pinky’
LGBT activists in Myanmar campaigning to decriminalise same-sex relations are urging thousands of people to paint their little finger pink as they try to highlight the issue ahead of elections later this year.
— Malaysia Sun

Myanmar Rebels Free Lawmaker Abducted in Attack on Boat
Ethnic minority rebels in Myanmar have released a lawmaker held hostage for two months in a bid to reduce tension in the war-torn western state of Rakhine, a human rights group and the rebels said.
— The New York Times

President agrees on further investigations and prosecutions as per ICOE recommendations
The Myanmar President Office issued a statement yesterday on January 21, stating that President U Win Myint agrees to conduct further criminal investigations and prosecutions, according to the recommendations of the Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE).
— Eleven Myanmar

Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations receives Country Director of Head of Office, Myanmar, World Bank
Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, U Thaung Tun received Mr Gevorg Sargsyan, Country Director and Head of World Bank Office in Myanmar at the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Attorney General Vows to Prosecute Civilian Perpetrators of Crimes Against Rohingya in Rakhine State
The Union Attorney General’s Office said it would investigate and prosecute crimes committed in Rakhine State in 2017, as recommended by the ICOE and the President.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar Election Commission Warns of Fake News Ahead of 2020 Election
Officials with Myanmar’s election commission have said hate speech, fake news and misinformation can hurt the country’s prospects for a fair election later this year.
— Irrawaddy

National Environmental Conservation & Climate Change Central Committee holds ninth coord meeting
Vice President U Myint Swe addresses the ninth coordination meeting of the National-Level Environmental Conservation and Climate Change Central Committee at the Forest Department in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Government to expand nationwide fortified rice programme
The Department of Social Welfare will expand its nationwide fortified rice programme among preschoolers in a bid to improve children’s health and reduce nutritional deficiencies, a senior official said.
— Myanmar Times

Emergency project proposals greenlighted by MIC
A number of energy projects, including emergency power plants, have been greenlighted by the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC).
— Myanmar Times

State Counsellor meets with locals in Leshi, Bamauk townships in Sagaing Region
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, Chairperson of the Committee for Development of Rural Areas and National Races, held public meetings with the local people in Leshi of Naga Self-Administered Zone and Bamauk township in Sagaing Region yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Establishment of Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) and Financing for MSMEs Seminar held in Nay Pyi Taw
Seminar on ‘Establishment of Credit Guarantee Corporation (CGC) and Financing for MSMEs’ was held in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday focusing on SMEs and MSMEs Financing in the areas of government policies, regulation and credit services for SMEs.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Responsible pet ownership a step towards curbing rabies
Whenever we read stories about rabies and animal bites in the media, registration of cats and dogs is the first idea that comes into our heads.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Yangon Launches Free Ferry Service to Remote Andaman Sea Island
Yangon’s authorities are paying for a free monthly ferry service to remote Coco Island but the ship is only available to civil servants and islanders.
— Irrawaddy

Senior General meets Laotian Air Force Chief
Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior General Min Aung Hlaing received Colonel Khamlek Sengphachanh, Chief of Lao Air Force, at Zeyathiri Beikman in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday evening.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Japan to Provide Over $1 Billion in Loans to Myanmar for Development Projects
Myanmar and Japan have signed four loan agreements worth more than US$1 billion for the development of sewerage, power and other projects in seven states and regions.
— Irrawaddy

Remittances are of Great Importance for Development
By Htun Tin Htun Recognition of the role and contribution of migrant workers is nowadays of crucial importance for the sustainable development of many countries in the world and there are many organizations to defend and protect the rights of the migrant workers whenever they encounter problems threatening their human lives and human dignity.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference 2020 held in Yangon
The Sports Science and Sports Medicine Conference 2020 was held at the Novotel Hotel in Yangon yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar and South Korean archers take trainings together
South Korean archery team has joined with Myanmar national archery team at Kyaikkasan Archery field in Yangon from January 18 to 30.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar inquiry into treatment of Rohingya criticised after finding no evidence of rape
A Myanmar government-backed inquiry that dismissed allegations of genocide against the Rohingya has been condemned as a deeply flawed cover-up, after it failed to interview a single victim of rape.
— The Guardian

A Vision of Success: Myanmar Project Professionals Set Their Sights on a Bright Future
On January 19th the Myanmar Project Management Center (MPC) hosted the 2nd Myanmar Project Management Symposium at the Lotte Hotel Yangon.
— Myanmore

Under Armour arrives in Myanmar
With the numbers of gym and fitness centers increasing in Yangon, Yanonites are also spending more money on apparel and fashion – from yoga mats and tracksuits, to barbells and running tops.
— Myanmar Times

A Foodie Guide to Junction Square’s New Food Square
Foodsquare – a new food court in Junction Square offers a variety of culinary selections with international cuisine to cater to the tastes of a discerning and adventurous public. Here’re some restaurants that you would love to dine in while going shopping.
— Myanmore

Freedom Film Festival 2020: It’s Time for Peace and Justice
One of the biggest events for the regional film industries, the Freedom Film Festival is a documentary festival focused on productions from Southeast Asia.
— Myanmar Times

Wave Money, 2C2P partner to expand services, reach
Mobile financial services provider Wave Money and payments platform 2C2P on Tuesday signed an MoU to deliver online payment services for WavePay users nationwide.
— Myanmar Times

Third-party thinking toward a potential path to peace
In Myanmar, it is necessary to have equality and self-determination for the different ethnic races to live peacefully and harmoniously together.
— BNI Online

Japan provides funding for four infrastructure projects
Japan announced yesterday that it is providing loans totalling ¥120.9 billion (US$1.1 billion) to Myanmar for four infrastructure projects.
— Myanmar Times

Muse trade camp accounts for over 54 pc of total border trade
Till 10 January of this fiscal year, the trade value at Muse border trade camp reached 1.602 billion US dollars, accounting for over 54 per cent of the total border trade value, according to the Commerce Ministry.
— Eleven Myanmar

Help provided for those who escaping fighting between Myanmar and Mon Troops
After armed clashes between Myanmar and Mon armies near Ban Bo Yipoon, Nong Lu Sub – district, Sangkhlaburi District of Kanchanaburi Province, on November 27, 2019, the Relief and Community Health Bureau, Thai Red Cross Society, sent out a Rapid Action Team (RAT) and its officials along with concerned organizations to survey and estimate impacts and needs for assistance among affected people, according to a Thai Red Cross statement.
— BNI Online

Nearly 2500 fires claim 79 lives in Myanmar in 2019
Myanmar had nearly 2500 fires last year, which killed 79 people and left 6300 others homeless, the country’s fire department said.
— Myanmar Times

Republic of the Union of Myanmar, Office of the President Press Release – 12th Waning of Pyatho 1381 ME (21 January 2020)
President U Win Myint has received the final report of the Independent Commission of Enquiry (ICOE). The Commission was established by the Office of the President on 30 July 2018 to investigate the allegations of human rights violations in Rakhine during the internal armed conflict between Myanmar’s Defence Services and the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) in 2016-17.
— Reliefweb

Myanmar President Says Military Courts Must Investigate, Prosecute Soldiers Responsible For Rights Violations Against Rohingya
Myanmar President Win Myint on Tuesday claimed the military must investigate as well as penalize soldiers as well as various other safety pressures that dedicated rights violations throughout a 2017 suppression on Muslim Rohingya neighborhoods in the nation’s north Rakhine state, based upon the searchings for of a record provided a day previously by a government-appointed compensation that examined allegations of army-led battle criminal offenses.
— The union journal

Feature photo Karen Unity Hope

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on International Day of Education, January 24.

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).

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About Myanmar morning news.

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