Myanmar morning news for March 20, 2020

MTEA proposes loan scheme for survival of declining tourism industry
Myanmar Tourism Entrepreneurs Association (MTEA) has proposed a plan to take a loan of around Ks 50 billion from the government in order to avoid the unemployment of thousands of skilled workers in the Covid-19 hit local tourism industry, said U Naung Naung Han, Chair of the MTEA, at a meeting on the economic remedy for Covid-19 at UMFCCI on 17 March.
— Eleven Myanmar

At least 10,000 now unemployed in Yangon garment sector
At least 20 out of the 500 factories in Myanmar have shut down, leaving more than 10,000 potentially unemployed as a result of COVID-19.
— Myanmar Times

Malaysia seeks 2,000 Rohingyas for Covid-19 checks after tabligh gathering
Malaysian authorities are scrambling to track down about 2,000 Rohingya men who attended a Muslim religious gathering that has led to a big spike in coronavirus cases across Southeast Asia, a security source and two other people told Reuters.
— New Straits times

Yangon water supply upgrade may bypass the poorest
The Myanmar and Japanese governments are working together to deliver clean, drinkable water to millions of Yangon residents and end groundwater use, but the city’s poorest households may miss out on the benefits.
— Frontier Myanmar

Myanmar, Singapore airlines cut Yangon-Singapore flights
Singapore low-cost airline Jetstar Asia Airways and Myanmar National Airlines on Wednesday made separate announcements about temporary suspension of their direct flights between Singapore and Yangon amid the worsening spread of COVID-19.
— Myanmar Times

Lack of COVID-19 Info Under Myanmar’s Internet Ban Could Doom Rakhine Refugees: NGO
Myanmar’s government must lift its ban on internet service in war-ravaged Rakhine state to permit tens of thousands of displaced civilians to access information about the coronavirus, a civil society group demanded this week, warning of mass deaths if crowded refugee camps become infected.
— Radio Free Asia

MoALI, JICA sign for Agricultural Crop Value Chain Project
The Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation singed a memorandum of understanding with the Japan International Cooperation Agency for a technical assistance project to promote value chain of agricultural crops through food safety programme.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar govt seeks $500M loan from Japan, South Korea to upgrade railway
The government will seek US$502.72 million (K719.71 billion) in loans from Japan and South Korea for railway upgrades to facilitate the transportation of goods and people in the country, a senior official said on Wednesday.
— Myanmar Times

Melon exports resume in Myanmar-China border
Exports of watermelon and muskmelon across the Myanmar-China border in Muse have resumed on 15 March after a delay period caused by the COVID-19, according to Myanmar Watermelon and Muskmelon Exporters and Producers Association (MWMEP).
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

In Myanmar’s Yangon, Volunteers Step in Where Government Response is Minimal
A volunteer team has actually been constructing makeshift hand-washing terminals in Yangon, Myanmar’s biggest city, to stop the spread of the coronavirus in the lack of a methodical response by the government, which preserves the nation has actually no validated instances of the viral condition.
— The Union Journal

Myanmar at risk from extreme climate
According to the Global Climate Risk Index 2020, Myanmar has had the highest weather-related losses in the past two decades, alongside Puerto Rico and Haiti. It is said that Myanmar is also one of the most vulnerable countries at risk of climate crisis.
— The Asean Post

Myanmar govt postpones teacher training
The Basic Education Department said on Monday it has postponed all training for teachers as part of the government precautions to prevent the COVID-19 virus from infecting people in the country.
— Myanmar Times

Ministry of Border Affairs shares information on COVID-19
The Ministry of Border Affairs has been sharing news and information on COVID-19, including how it spreads and preventive measures against it, at the universities, degree colleges and schools under the ministry since the spread of the virus.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

1,026 drug-related cases registered across Myanmar
Myanmar authorities seized a large number of narcotic drugs and controlled chemicals in Shan state, according to a release from the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC), Xinhua reported.
— Mizzima

Myanmar Unveils $70-Million Stimulus Package to Ease Economic Blow From Virus
The Myanmar government has announced an initial stimulus package to cushion the impact of COVID-19 on the country’s economy, including 100 billion kyats (nearly US$70 million) worth of loans, eased deadlines for tax payments, and tax exemptions for Myanmar-owned businesses that have been hit by the global pandemic.
— Irrawaddy

Unpaid Myanmar workers protest at Labour office
More than 100 Myanmar workers descended on the Department of Labour Protection and Welfare (DLPW) Phuket office in Phuket Town yesterday (Mar 18) in protest as they had not received their salary last month.
— The Phuket News

Overall Myanmar’s trade volumes rise despite virus pandemic
Myanmar’s trade volumes have risen in the current fiscal year 2019-20 despite the conronavirus pandemic sweeping the world, the Ministry of Commerce announced.
— Myanmar Times

Yangon markets to be cleaned regularly to prevent outbreak
The Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) deployed more workers in markets around the city to clean up every two hours as part of the effort to prevent an outbreak of COVID-19.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar border checkpoints temporarily closed to foreign nationals
Foreign nationals are temporarily barred entry into Myanmar through any border checkpoint starting from 19 March as a preventive measure against COVID-19, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

YCDC confirms ‘no closure’ of markets in Yangon amid Covid-19 fears
The Yangon City Development Committee will not order to shut its markets in the city amid concerns over Covid-19 pandemic.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

International schools in Yangon close temporarily from Covid-19 fears
Some international schools in Yangon have started online teaching after the temporary shutdown due to the Covid-19.
— Eleven Myanmar

With those unwilling to change, peace and progress will be “a long way away”: NLD MP
Myanmar will still be far away from peace and progress as long as those who do not want reform exist in parliament, said Upper House MP Dr Myat Nyana Soe from the National League for Democracy.
— Eleven Myanmar

Hluttaw representatives donate daily allowance for COVID-19
The Pyithu and Amyotha Hluttaw donated a total of K 12,880,000 from their combined daily allowance towards the protection against Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19).
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Closes All Land Borders to Foreigners
Myanmar has announced the closure of all its land borders to foreign nationals in a preventative measure against the coronavirus.
— Irrawaddy

Nay Pyi Taw Council issues Covid-19 prevention order
The Nay Pyi Taw Council made an order of measures to prevent Coronavirus Disease 2019 (Covid-19) in its Union Territory, dated on 18 March.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

NLD’s Bid to End Myanmar Military’s Constitutional Grip on National Security Voted Down
The NLD’s bid to scrap charter provisions giving the military sole responsibility for all armed forces and ‘safeguarding the nation’ fell short in parliamentary voting.
— Irrawaddy

11 returnees accepted at Nga Khu Ya Reception Centre
Authorities accepted 11 returnees from Bangladesh at the Nga Khu Ya Reception Centre and transported to their place of origin yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar Airbase Accident Injures Local Woman in Explosion
A local resident in Magwe was injured Tuesday when a piece of a weapon at Magwe Airbase slipped and struck a warehouse. The air force is allegedly compensating the victim.
— Irrawaddy

Man under investigation of COVID-19 sent to Nay Pyi Taw hospital
A person under suspicion of COVID-19 from Ottarathiri Township was sent to the 1000-bed Nay Pyi Taw Hospital on March 18 for further tests.
— Eleven Myanmar

MoE takes steps to ensure healthcare during matric exams
The Ministry of Education has been closely following guidelines to protect against COVID-19 issued by the Ministry of Health and Sports to ensure the safety and peace of mind for students taking the matriculation examinations since 11 March.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Civilians Killed, Wounded by Landmines in Southern Myanmar
An ethnic Mon man died after stepping on a landmine in Mon State’s Ye Township while going fishing in an area that has seen clashes between Mon and Karen armed groups.
— Irrawaddy

Students unwilling to take university exam due to COVID-19 may re-sit in May or June
The Ministry of Education issued a statement on March 18 saying that the students who don’t want to take examination due to COVID-19 will be allowed to re-sit in May or June, and the reopening date of universities will be announced.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s Bygone Rangoon Government House
Over 80 years, the Government House went through an evolution of British colonial governors, presidents of Myanmar and eventual neglect until Ne Win had it demolished in 1978.
— Irrawaddy

Weaving Local Threads: How A Myanmar Designer Built Her Brand, Art Che Lone
A local Yangon clothing designer has built a made-in-Myanmar brand selling trendy, colorful and simple clothes for women, made entirely from Inle Lake cotton.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar Unveils $70-Million Stimulus Package to Ease Economic Blow From Virus
SMEs, travel, garment and other businesses hit by the coronavirus pandemic will receive low-interest loans and tax deferrals under the government’s new stimulus package.
— Irrawaddy

Pandemic Makes Case for Partnership Between ROK and Myanmar, Other Mekong Nations
The steps Korea has taken to curb the spread of the coronavirus, recently held up as exemplary by the WHO, hold valuable lessons for its partners in the Mekong region.
— Irrawaddy

Pyidaungsu Hluttaw votes on constitutional amendment, discusses IDA loan for health sector
The Pyidaungsu Hluttaw continued voting on proposals for constitutional amendment, took records on approval of bylaws of ethnic rights protection and court file copy, and discussed taking loan and grant of International Development Association of the World Bank yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

China’s Wuhan Reports No New Coronavirus Infections for First Time
For the first time since the coronavirus emerged there late last year, the Chinese city of Wuhan on Thursday reported no new infections.
— Irrawaddy

Myanmar army withdraws criminal complaint against Reuters
Police said last week the military had filed a lawsuit against Reuters and a local lawmaker for criminal defamation weeks after objecting to a news story about two Rohingya Muslim women, who died as a result of shelling in Rakhine state.
— BD News 24

Feature photo Unicef Myanmar

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focus on World Water Day, March 22

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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