Myanmar morning news for January 22, 2019

Rakhine ups efforts to draw investments, hopes for development
Rakhine State will target investments in tourism, fisheries and agriculture at an investment fair that will be held in February in Ngapali, southern Rakhine, Rakhine State Chief Minister U Nyi Pu told the media in Yangon yesterday.
— Myanmar Times

China’s diplomatic shield has a price for Myanmar
While Aung San Suu Kyi’s government has a strained relationship with the West over its handling of the Rohingya crisis, China has shielded Myanmar from international pressure and punitive action from the U.N. Security Council.
— UCA News

Illegal sugar trade continues at Myawady border area
Illegal sugar trading continues at the border area of Myawady in Kayin State despite the government suspension of sugar import and re-export, an official of a local sugar trade group said.
— Myanmar Times

Middle-income City Loft properties now on sale to the public
Yoma Land today announced that sales of City Loft @ StarCity are officially open to members of the general public.
— Mizzima

Export outlook poor in short term, but we shall overcome
There have been repercussions from the decline in rice exports at the Muse gate, illegal trade, and the recent withdrawal of the EU’s Generalized Scheme of Preferences on Myanmar’s export sector. As a result, we see some difficulties in the short term.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar is ‘too slow’ in allowing Rohingya return, says UN chief
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday criticised as “too slow” Myanmar’s efforts to allow the return of Rohingya Muslim refugees, describing the lack of progress as a source of “enormous frustration”.
— The Phnom Penh Post

Myanmar and Thai issues on table at Asean-EU meeting : Source
Ministers from Asean and European Union were meeting in Brussels on Monday to review past cooperation and further strengthen ties between the regions.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar to Establish Derivatives Market
A plan to launch a derivatives market in Myanmar is afoot, but an important step is to put in place an appropriate regulatory regime.
— Regulation Asia

Ascent Capital launches Myanmar growth fund
Ascent Capital Partners Pte. Ltd., a Singapore-registered fund management firm, has announced the launch of a Myanmar-focused private equity fund – Ascent Myanmar Growth Fund I LP (“AMGF”).
— Mizzima

Amended land law could criminalise millions, obstruct peace talks
With less than two months before the newly amended Vacant, Fallow and Virgin Lands Management (VFV) Law goes into force, millions in ethnic rural areas now face the risk of eviction while others across the country may lose their lands upon return.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar requests EU not to revoke trade preference
Myanmar Government officials and businesses have requested the European Union (EU) to reconsider the potential move to withdraw its generalised scheme of preferences (GSP) benefit from the country fearing negative impacts on growth and population. Both feel the move will result in high levels of unemployment resulting from migration of foreign business houses.
— Fibre2Fashion

31 Rohingya stranded between India, Bangladesh border
Some 31 Rohingya refugees have been living in inhuman conditions between the Bangladesh and India border for the last three days, according to local media reports on Monday.
— The Nation

China-Myanmar economic cooperation zone to be developed along border area
A first ever China-Myanmar Border Economic Cooperation Zone will be developed along the Kunlong-Chinshwehaw border area in Shan state, the official Global New Light of Myanmar quoted a developer as reporting on Sunday.
— China Economic Net

Govt orders crackdown on Arakan Army
State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi has ordered a crackdown on the Arakan Army (AA), said U Zaw Htay, director general and spokesperson of the President’s Office.
— Myanmar Times

‘Frustrated’ UN chief criticises Myanmar
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Friday criticized as “too slow” Myanmar’s efforts to allow the return of Rohingya Muslim refugees, describing the lack of progress as a source of “enormous frustration.”
— The Daily Star

Three Kachin State ministers reportedly asked to resign
Three Kachin State ministers have reportedly been asked to put forward resignation letters under a directive of the State Counsellor.
— Eleven Myanmar

First ever Rakhine investment festival to be held in Ngapali
An investment festival to attract investors for the development of Rakhine State will be held at Ngapali beach.
— Mizzima

Myanmar busts huge quantity of drugs
The Home Ministry declared that Myanmar authorities have captured a huge quantity of narcotic drugs in Moemeik of Kachin state and Ma Bein in Shan state.
— MENAFN

11-member BGB delegation in Myanmar for border talks
An 11-member Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) delegation has reached Maungdaw in Myanmar for a flag meeting on various border-related issues between the two countries.
— Dhaka Tribune

Kenya wins almost all places in Myanmar’s Yangon Int’l Marathon 2019
Kenya won almost all places in Myanmar’s 7th Yoma Yangon International Marathon 2019, held at the Thuwuna National Indoor Stadium on Sunday, Myanmar News Agency reported Monday.
— Xinhua

Military regime’s economic adviser dies at 84
Myanmar’s economic adviser under the military regime and former Brigadier General of Tatmadaw (military), David Abel, passed away at the age of 84 yesterday.
— Myanmar Times

The Hindu Rohingya who want to return to Myanmar
Hindu Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh say they are desperate to go home. They had fled to Bangladesh fearing reprisals after they refused to join an armed Rohingya group.
— Aljazeera

Japan to conduct farm training in Kayin armed ethnic areas
Peace Win Japan under the Japan Nippon Foundation will give agricultural training to armed ethnic groups in Kawkareik and Myawady in Kayin State to help then earn more from farming, said U Win Hlaing Oo, head of the Agriculture Department.
— Myanmar Times

Feature photo Asian Development Bank

This week’s Myanmar morning news photo features acknowledges 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).

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.