Myanmar morning news for April 3, 2019

Property investments now more clear-cut for foreigners
Property developers and investors have been looking forward to stable regulations and foreign participation in the local real estate sector since the Condominium Law was enacted in 2016 and gradually enforced.
— Myanmar Times

Govt to announce list of preferred foreign life insurers on Friday
A list of preferred foreign life insurers permitted to operate in Myanmar will be announced on April 5,the Ministry of Planning and Finance (MOPF) said last week.
— Myanmar Times

Labour attaché office warns Myanmar workers to return through official routes
Myanmar labour attaché office made an announcement on March 30, warning its workers in Thailand to return via official routes during Thingyan period, sources said.
— Eleven Myanmar

The real driving forces behind Myanmar’s opium trade
For the past 20 years, China has been the main market for Myanmar’s rich bounty of illegally produced opium and its potent derivative heroin.
— Asia Times

Myanmar: Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy sweeps Yangon city polls
As the countdown begins on the 2020 Myanmar parliament polls, Aung San Suu Kyi‘s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) could take heart from this week’s clean sweep of the Yangon city polls.
— Nenow

Malaysia’s Sunway Construction Group enters Myanmar
Malaysia’s Sunway Construction Group Bhd has ventured into Myanmar, partnering with Capital Construction Ltd to develop major infrastructure and construction projects there, the News Straits Times has reported.
— Mizzima

Harassment-free workplaces make good business sense
Companies and employers in Myanmar can improve their labour productivity by up to 14 percent if they addressed bullying and sexual harassment, according to a latest study.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar manufacturing PMI signals modest improvement in March
Myanmar’s manufacturing sector indicated a moderate improvement in business environment in March, supported by sustained upturns in output, new orders and employment, although the pace of expansion softened from the previous month, according to a survey.
— Nikkei Asian Review (paywall)

Defending Myanmar’s Remaining Environmental Treasures
Unique programs led by indigenous peoples are protecting wildlife biodiversity in Karen state.
— The diplomat

Nighttime Curfew Imposed in Five Townships in Myanmar’s Rakhine State
Officials have imposed a nighttime curfew in five townships in Myanmar’s war-ravaged western Rakhine state in response to a string of violent attacks against police and government soldiers in the past three months that resulted in deaths and property destruction, regional lawmakers said Tuesday.
— Radio Free Asia

Myanmar dam project shouldn’t be politicized
Non-governmental organizations, political parties, and environmental experts from every state and region in Myanmar have been invited to come together in opposition to the China-financed Myitsone Hydropower Dam project, Frontier Myanmar magazine reported.
— Global Times

Commercial tax on mobile handsets to be levied
Consumers will have to pay a 5 percent commercial tax when buying mobile handsets and related accessories from June 1 onwards, the Internal Revenue Department (IRD) announced on April 1.
— Myanmar Times

Call for quick and safe Rohingya repatriation maintaining peaceful coexistence
Speakers at a meeting today, acknowledged the plight of the Rohingya refugees and highlighted the importance of ensuring their return to Myanmar in dignity and safety.
— Reliefweb

Strong wind destroys houses and buildings in Chin and Sagaing
Strong wind destroyed houses and buildings in some townships in Chin State and Sagaing Region on March 31, sources said.
— Eleven Myanmar

State Counsellor attends the opening ceremony of Myaungmya Bridge
State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi attended the opening ceremony of Myaungmya Bridge on April 1, sources said.
— Eleven Myanmar

To Elusive Snow-Capped Peaks— Destination Guide to Northern Myanmar
Katha is a small, sleepy town famous for being the setting of George Orwell’s novel Burmese Days. Orwell was stationed as a police officer here in the 1840s and the locations featured in the story—including the British Club and Orwell’s house—can be visited today. Local Orwell enthusiasts have managed to save the former Commissioner’s House from demolition and have simple visual exhibits connected to Orwell and the history of the town.
— The Irrawaddy

International NGOs in Myanmar reiterate humanitarian obligation to protect civilians in Rakhine
The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) has joined international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) renewing calls for protection of civilians amid continuing fighting between two armed sides in Myanmar’s Rakhine province.
— Lutheran World

More than 400 complaints received during tour to Ayeyawady
More than 400 complaints were received on the first day of Myanmar State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi’s tour to seven townships in Ayeyawady Region.
— Eleven Myanmar

A skilled workforce is the backbone of our economy
Providing the jobless or the underemployed with the right training and the right job is an investment which can bring lasting returns.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Secretariat Launches New Cultural Wing, Commissions TS1 as Programming Partner
The Secretariat recently announced the launch of its cultural wing in partnership with culture entrepreneur Ivan Pun’s initiative TS1. Located in the southern wing of The Secretariat, TS1 will bring in the works of both local and international artists to the heart of Yangon, creating an interactive space aimed at families, students and the general public.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar outbound tourism rising year-on-year
Myanmar’s outbound tourism has continued to thrive year over year, according to overseas tour agencies.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

India-Myanmar border trade hit $ 85.8 million
Border trade between Myanmar and India as of 15 March, in this fiscal, reached US$ 85.8 million, an increase in value by $34.77 million over this time last year, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Commerce.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Border trade between Myanmar, Bangladesh decline
Border trade value between Myanmar and Bangladesh, as of 15 March, reached US$ 16.12 million, which showed a decrease of $ 1.9 million, compared with the same period last year, according to statistics provided by the Ministry of Commerce.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar to turn historic Secretariat Building into museum
Myanmar’s historic Secretariat Building, known as Ministers’ Office previously, is nearing completion with its renovation work and is scheduled to open as a museum in July, according to the Secretariat Conservation Trust (SCT) on Tuesday.
— China.org

Rakhine aid access ban leaves 95,000 lacking basic services, say INGOs
YANGON — Nearly 100,000 people in Rakhine State are unable to access essential services because of a ban on aid organisations entering townships affected by fighting between the Tatmadaw and the Arakan Army, humanitarian groups have warned in a joint statement.
— Frontier Myanmar

SunCon ventures into Myanmar by inking MoU with local conglomerate
Sunway Construction Group Bhd (SunCon)’s indirect unit Sunway Builders (Myanmar) Co Ltd (SBM) is entering into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with local firm Capital Construction Limited (CCL) to develop major infrastructure and construction projects in Myanmar, signalling the leading Malaysian construction player’s foray into the Southeast Asian country.
— The Edge Markets

War’s impact on Mrauk-U cultural heritage to be surveyed
A survey will look at the effects of recent armed clashes on the Mrauk-U historical zone, which is being considered for listing as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, said U Than Htike, director of the Department of Archaeology, National Museum and Library.
— Myanmar Times

Highway accidents kill 20, injure over 100 in Myanmar in March
Twenty people were killed with 113 others injured in traffic accidents on Myanmar’s Yangon-Mandalay highway last month, according to the figures from the Highway Police Office on Tuesday.
— China.org

Feature photo Myanmar Autism Association

This week’s Myanmar morning news photo features World Autism Awareness Day, April 2.

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.