Myanmar morning news for April 22, 2019

Myanmar economy losing momentum, IMF warns
The International Monetary Fund has warned that the Myanmar economy “appears to be losing momentum”, citing concerns over fallout from the Rakhine crisis and weaknesses in the banking sector.
— Myanmar Times

Jailed Reuters journalists wait final ruling in Myanmar
Myanmar’s highest court will make a rule on Tuesday on appeal by two jailed Reuters journalists imprisoned for reporting on extrajudicial killing of Rohingya muslims in western Rakhine state.
— Yenisafak

Foreign investments in Myanmar’s several sectors achieve over USD1.5B
More than USD.87 billion of foreign investments entered Myanmar’s sectors in first half of present fiscal year 2018-2019, according to the statistics from the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration (DICA).
— Menafn

Water resources bureaucrats arrested in corruption probe
The anti-graft body has arrested five senior bureaucrats of the Directorate of Water Resources and Improvement of River Systems (DWIR) on suspicion of corruption.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar’s Security Forces Counterattack Ethnic Insurgents In Western State
Myanmar’s security forces have launched a counter-attack against the insurgent group, the Arakan Army (AA), in its regional military headquarters in Rakhine state, the Office of the Commander-in-Chief of the Defense Services said.
— Defence Aviation Post

Myanmar’s border trade reaches nearly 5 bln USD in mid FY 2018-19
Myanmar’s trade with foreign countries through border gates reached over 4.83 billion U.S. dollars as of March 29 in fiscal year 2018-19, according to the figures from the Commerce Ministry Friday.
— Brinkwire

Post-Thingyan sales of beans, pulses grow in Mandalay market
The Mandalay pulses market is abuzz with buyers and sellers in the post-Thingyan period, said traders.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Burma urged to protect media freedom in Constitution
The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined a group of 20 global press freedom and human rights organizations in welcoming Myanmar’s creation of a Constitutional Amendment Committee tasked with supporting the country’s transition to democracy. The group is recommending specific changes to protect freedom of expression and media freedom in the constitution.
— IFEX

Thailand, Myanmar boost cooperation in tourism development
Thailand and Myanmar have signed a cooperation deal to promote tourism routes connecting ancient cities of the two countries in preparation for a travel boom expected from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
— VietnamPlus

Local farmers unhappy, despite growth of groundnut
Local farmers are unhappy, even though the growing of groundnut has been promising. Groundnuts were cultivated on 30.50 acres of land owned by nine local farmers during the groundnut planting season.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Yangon financing platform Daung Capital raises capital for ongoing Series A round
Daung Capital, a Yangon-based financing platform, has raised capital for an ongoing Series A financing round, according to its founder.
— DealStreetAsia

Grape growers in Meiktila reap handsome profits this season
Grape growers in Meiktila, a town in central Myanmar, said they reaped a healthy profit during this harvest thanks to stable prices in the domestic market.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Open letter sent to Chinese President on Myitsone Project
Local activists have sent an open letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, saying that Myanmar people will pay compensation to China, for all incurred costs for the Myitsone Dam Project, according to a talk show titled “Redeem Ayeyawady” at Novotel Hotel in Yangon on April 20.
— Eleven Myanmar

Broom industry sees a boom in Mahlaing
Broom industry is booming in Yeyin Village, Minuhle Village-tract, Mahlaing Township, Meiktila District, Mandalay Region, according to local traditional broom-makers.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Strong wind kills 3, injures 1 in Myanmar’s state
Three men were killed and one injured by strong wind in Myanmar’s Kachin state, the Myanmar Police Force said on Sunday.
— UNB

State Counsellor calls for durable peace
Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi has called for working strenuously for genuine peace and in building the democratic federal republic, according to Xinhua.
— Mizzima

Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker inaugurates infrastructure, meets local people in Myawady
Amyotha Hluttaw Speaker Mahn Win Khaing Than accompanied by Amyotha Hluttaw representative U Sein Bo, Kayin State Hluttaw representatives U Aik Kyan Kham and U Thant Zin Aung, district administrator and township administrator went to meet with locals from southern Myawady District yesterday …
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Illegal charcoal trade threatens Myanmar’s remaining mangroves
Mangroves from Myanmar are illegally harvested and converted into charcoal that is sent to Thailand before it’s sold to China, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia and Indonesia by
— Frontier Myanmar

Opening ceremony held for 66/11-6.6 KV, 30 MVA Hline University GIS substation
In order to increase the supply of electricity to Yangon Region, a 66/11-6.6 KV, 30 MVA Hline University Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) sub-station implemented and constructed by Yangon Electricity Supply Corporation (YESC) was inaugurated at the sub-station yesterday morning. In his address to the …
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

US Congress members take aim at Myanmar over human rights abuse
US Congress members, concerned that the Trump administration is not doing enough to address human rights concerns in Myanmar, are stepping in to address the situation, according to ABC News in a report 19 April.
— Mizzima

Ashin Sandadika delivers peace sermon at Kyaikthalan Pagoda platform
LOCAL people in Mawlamyine gathered at the Kyaikthanlan Pagoda in Mawlamyine yesterday to listen to a peace sermon delivered by Sayadaw Ashin Sandadika o commemorate the arrival of religious objects to be fixed atop Nay Pyi Taw Eternal Peace Pagoda and Buddha images to the Kyaikthanlan Pagoda.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

A Myanmar accountant’s anti-corruption legacy
Anti-corruption campaigners in India’s ongoing general elections may have never heard of Kyaukse in Myanmar, and likewise clean-governance crusaders worldwide.
— Asia Times

Local farmers unhappy, despite growth of groundnut
Local farmers are unhappy, even though the growing of groundnut has been promising. Groundnuts were cultivated on 30.50 acres of land owned by nine local farmers during the groundnut planting season.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

AAPP urges govt to sign UNCAT and ICCPR
The Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP) urged the current government to sign the international contracts such as United Nations Convention against Torture (UNCAT) and International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR).
— Eleven Myanmar

Danus’ bamboo umbrellas, Shan paper sheets remain popular
The bamboo umbrellas made by the Danu ethnic people, and paper sheets made by the Shan, are selling well these days because people are visiting these industries in the Shan State and Danu areas.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Citizen investments hit around Ks 6985 bln in three years
Until March this year, the Myanmar Investment Commission (MIC) allowed citizen investments worth over Ks 18,609 billion, with the real estate sector, manufacturing, transportation, hotel and tourism and construction sectors topping the list.
— Eleven Myanmar

Soldiers foil AA group attack on military HQ near MraukU
Soldiers at a regional military headquarters near MraukU opened fire and drove off an approaching AA group trying to attack at about 4 a.m. yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Strong winds destroy over 400 houses in Sagaing Region
According to the figures released by Social Affairs Office of the Sagaing Region government, gusts of winds that started in the evening of April 18 destroyed over 400 houses in the region.
— Mizzima

Grape growers in Meiktila reap handsome profits this season
Grape growers in Meiktila, a town in central Myanmar, said they reaped a healthy profit during this harvest thanks to stable prices in the domestic market. Zin Min Oo, one of the grape growers in Kwetalin Village-tract, said.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Senior General Min Aung Hlaing pays goodwill visit to Russia
At the invitation of the Army General Sergey Kuzhugetovich Shouigu and Russia-Myanmar Military-Technical Cooperation Committee, a Myanmar military delegation led by Commander-in-Chief of Defence Services Senior-General Min Aung Hlaing left Nay Pyi Taw for the Russian Federation yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Defeat Malaria Myanmar

This week’s morning news photo features World Malaria Day, April 25.

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.