Govt announces ‘project bank’ to get Myanmar building
The government has announced the launch of an online “project bank” which will change the way infrastructure programmes are planned, determined and funded.
— Myanmar Times
Two-lane road connecting Dawei SEZ to be built
Myanmar will be constructing a road that connects Dawei Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and the border area with Thailand, says Dr Than Myint, Commerce Minister and Chairman of the Task Force on SEZ construction.
— Eleven Myanmar
Myanmar inches downward in annual corruption index
Amid a turbulent year of high-profile corruption scandals, Myanmar saw its grade in Transparency International’s annual Corruption Perceptions Index drop by a point in 2018, though downward momentum from other countries meant it actually inched up in the overall ranking.
— Coconuts
Fish export to China still poses challenges: MFF
With only one of the two species of Myanmar striped catfish registered for export to China, the Myanmar Fisheries Federation is seeking permission for legal export of the second species to help exporters.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar
Karen minority urge ‘respect’ in Myanmar peace park initiative
Salween Peace Park combines self-determination with environmental protection, but central government has yet to sign up.
— Aljazeera
Myanmar, UNICEF to continue collaboration in immunization program
Myanmar and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) will continue to collaborate in Myanmar’s immunization program, Myanmar News Agency reported on Thursday.
— Xinhua
‘Dialogue will make Myanmar stronger’ – Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar
The Special Envoy of the Secretary-General on Myanmar visited the country from 18 to 29 January. According an official statement, she oversaw the installation of her new office in Nay Pyi Taw, where she also met with Union-level ministers and with the Chairperson of the Independent Commission of Enquiry.
— Mizzima
Massive township development set to proceed
The massive New Mandalay Resort City (NMRC) integrated township project is set to move forward on a 4000 hectare site off the Mandalay-Lashio highway in Mandalay Region’s Pyin Oo Lwin district.
— Myanmar Times
On Myanmar-China border, the town of Muse overflows with guns, drugs and cash
With tinted windows and their militia name emblazoned on the side of their Ford truck, “Pan Say” fighters cruise the sleazy streets of Muse, Myanmar’s main gateway to China and awash with weapons and cash from casinos, drugs and sex.
— South China Morning Post
CBM permits border trades in yen and yuan denominations
The Central Bank of Myanmar (CBM) officially introduced Japanese yen and Chinese yuan as settlement options for banks in cross border payments and transfers.
— Myanmar Times
Myanmar rebel groups consider alliance against government
The oldest and one of the largest rebel armies in Myanmar wants to unite with neighbouring groups to fight government.
— Aljazeera
Every citizen is entitled to the same inherent rights
There are still places on earth where discrimination exists. As long as prejudice and ignorance are present in the minds of people, discrimination will prevail. Isolation, prejudice, and negligence can make people lonely and cause mental health issues such as insecurity and depression.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar
Poor and isolated, Myanmar backs into a China debt trap
Myanmar’s parliament hopes China will accept repayment of its debts in rice, but payback will more likely come through deep-reaching economic concessions.
— Asia Times
KBZ Brings ‘Loving-Kindness’ to Myanmar Banking
It all started with a poll, when an overwhelming 85 percent of the employees of Kanbawza, Myanmar’s largest bank, picked “banking with Metta,” or loving-kindness, to be the company’s core value.
— The Irrawaddy
Next stop Myanmar in China-Japan rivalry as frontier market opens doors to yuan and yen payments
Myanmar has officially permitted the use of the Chinese and Japanese currencies in cross-border payments, as the Asian giants vie for dominance in one of the region’s last frontier markets.
— South China Morning Post
Rakhine Organizations Criticize Myanmar’s Military After 7-Year-Old Boy Dies
Civil society groups in Myanmar’s western Rakhine state expressed sorrow and anger over the death of a seven-year-old boy two days after he was wounded in an attack last weekend by government troops on Thamee Hla village, in Rakhine’s Rathetaung Township.
— Radio Free Asia
Sanctions Squeeze Myanmar’s Economy
ALONG the cobblestone streets inside Bogyoke Aung San Market, the sprawling colonial-era shopping center that draws both local shoppers and international tourists, Zat is one of hundreds of vendors trying to entice shoppers. The bazaar offers goods and services ranging from antiques to clothing, from handicrafts to trading money on the black market.
— US News
Mytel reaches five million subscribers in Myanmar
Mytel – Viettel’s brand in Myanmar – reached five million subscribers on Thursday just eight months after its launch. Mytel targeted to reach the milestone of 10 million subscribers this year.
— Viet Nam News
Achieving Zero Hunger and Ending Poverty by 2030
All over the world countries are implementing Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and Myanmar has approved the balanced Myanmar Sustainable Development Plan (MSDP) a few months ago. MSDP has three main pillars, five goals, and 28 strategies with designated project implementation programs under each strategy. There are a total of 251 work processes. MSDP processes will be implemented as a living document.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar
NLD seeks to clip Myanmar military’s wings
Aung San Suu Kyi’s ruling National League for Democracy (NLD) faces strong opposition from Myanmar military MPs over its plan to amend the constitution to reduce the military’s role in politics.
— UCA News
Freedom of movement key for refugees: envoy
Freedom of movement is important to rebuild trust in Rakhine State, Christine Schraner Burgener, the United Nations’ special envoy on human rights in Myanmar, said in a statement at the end of her 12-day visit to Myanmar yesterday.
— Myanmar Times
Yangon International Airport Enhances Stakeholder Partnerships; Plans to Boost Global Network
Yangon International Airport (YIA) yesterday hosted a reception in appreciation of its airline partners as it looks forward to a more connected future with updated facilities and enhanced airline partnership to handle the expected increases in passenger arrivals following Myanmar’s relaxation of entry visa requirements last October.
— AsiaOne
Myanmar: ‘No political prisoners’ but dozens still behind bars
U Zaw Moe stands in a windowless white-walled prison cell on the outskirts of Yangon.
— Aljazeera
14 Indonesian fishermen repatriated from Myanmar
More than a dozen Acehnese fishermen have returned home after being detained for almost three months in Myanmar over allegations of illegal poaching, the Foreign Ministry has announced.
— The Jakarta Post
ASEAN awards public toilets in Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw
A public toilet in Mandalay Region and another at a shopping mall in the administrative capital, Nay Pyi Taw, have won the ASEAN Public Toilet Award.
— Myanmar Times
Rosemary shares update on Myanmar Living Water Project
I have just returned from visiting the 52 water tanks in the dry zone of central Myanmar, built in 2018, and as always I feel a special sense of pride when I see “Inverell” on some of the plaques in this most remote and forgotten part of our world.
— Inverell Times
Car rally from New Delhi to Myanmar’s Yangon to mark 150th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi
A car rally commemorating 150 years of Mahatma Gandhi’s birth anniversary from New Delhi to Myanmar’s former capital Yangon will be flagged off from Rajghat on 4 February.
— Eleven Myanmar
Over 500 workers protest at garment factory
About 500 workers belonging to unions at over 30 factories protested at the Dishang Kenny garment factory in Hlaing Tharyar township to demand that it rehire seven union members on Wednesday.
— Myanmar Times
Lotte closes deal to acquire Myanmar’s No. 1 snack firm L&M Mayson
South Korea’s Lotte Confectionery announced on Thursday that it has completed the acquisition of L&M Mayson, a top bakery firm in Myanmar.
— Pulse News
Force Myanmar to take back Rohingyas
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday renewed her call to the international community to force Myanmar to take back its over one million Rohingya nationals from Bangladesh.
— The Daily Star
Feature photo Stefan Munder
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.

She commenced as an intern at AEC News Today and was appointed as a junior writer/ trainee journalist on April 2, 2018

Latest posts by Sreypov Men (see all)
- Myanmar morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020
- Vietnam morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020
- Malaysia morning news for July 24 – July 24, 2020
- Myanmar morning news for July 23 – July 23, 2020