Myanmar morning news for February 19, 2019

Local fuel prices on the rise
Local fuel prices, which had been stable for a month, are on the rise in the market, according to taxi drivers.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

US businesses eye investment opportunities in Myanmar
US investors are showing interest in Myanmar following recent efforts to open up and regulate several sectors of the economy, such as banking and finance, and education.
— Myanmar Times

Belt and Road Initiative brings opportunity to Myanmar, region: Myanmar State Counselor
The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) could bring opportunities to Myanmar and the region, Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi said here on Monday.
— Xinhua

New Yangon City Project: China, CCCC and Myanmar’s profits
If we were to take a look back at the New Yangon City Development Master Plan (hereinafter referred to as the Yangon City Project), one will find that it is directly linked to China’s mega-infrastructure project that is the One Belt One Road (OBOR).
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar’s opium farmers cling on to lucrative crop
Fields of purple opium poppy stretch across the pastures and peaks of mountainous eastern Myanmar, with many farmers reluctant to give up the profitable cash crop in spite of incentives offered.
— Economic Times

Minister calls for collective effort to effectively solve farmer shortage
Departmental officials and those involved in the farming sector should make collective efforts to effectively deal with the scarcity of farm workers in the local agro sector, said Dr. Aung Thu, Union Minister for Agriculture, Livestock and Irrigation, at a ceremony at Agricultural Research Department in Nay Pyi Taw on February 16.
— Eleven Myanmar

Australian company seeks gold concession in Mandalay
An Australian company has applied for a gold mining permit in Moehti Moemi, Yamethin township, Mandalay Region, said U Ye Myint Swe, deputy minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Conservation.
— Myanmar Times

Let’s reap potential of China-Myanmar cooperation
Since Myanmar embarked on its political transition, political elites in the country have championed that peace is the premise for economic and social development.
— Global Times

Permits for jade and gem mine blocks to expire this year
The permits for some jade and mine blocks in Myanmar will expire this year, U Thet Khaing, deputy director of Myanma Gems Enterprise has told The Myanmar Times.
— Myanmar Times

Mahout study laments slump in knowledge transfer
The care of working elephants in Myanmar has been affected by a decline in the transfers of knowledge that mahouts have accumulated over generations, researchers have found.
— Frontier Myanmar

The Controversial Myitsone Dam Projects: What China Should Do
China’s hurry to revive the Myitsone dam projects has renewed concerns among ethnic Kachin and Myanmar’s people. Last week thousands of people in Kachin state protested, calling once again for a permanent stop to the projects.
— Mizzima

Rail, bus travel around Yangon set for major upgrade
The Yangon Region Transport Authority (YRTA) will soon run a circular bus services from Aung Mingalar Highway bus terminal as the Yangon government quietly boosts its water, power, road and traffic infrastructure around the city.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar man held with drugs in Malaysia
Police detained a Myanmar national and seized drugs believed to be syabu and heroin worth RM367,000 in a barn in Bedong on Thursday evening.
— Borneo Bulletin

Japan to help tackle Myanmar garbage issue
Japan will help Myanmar tackle a garbage issue that has created a headache for its largest city of Yangon.
— NHK World

Tanintharyi CM goes to NPT after State Counsellor’s visit
Dr Le Le Maw, Chief Minister of Tanintharyi Region, immediately went to Nay Pyi Taw after the State Counsellor’s visit to Tanintharyi Region had concluded.
— Eleven Myanmar

Mandalay labourers banned from staging protest
Mandalay workers tried to stage a protest against dismissal of labour leaders but were banned from doing so as it was without permission, according to the sources.
— Eleven Myanmar

Rakhine investment fair can pave way for JVs with foreign investors
The Rakhine State Investment Fair will be held at Ngapali beach in Thandwe, Rakhine Sate for three days from 21 to 23 February.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Myanmar military cracks down on Indian militants
After repeated persuasion by India, the Myanmar government has started a crackdown on Indian militant groups using its territory as safe sanctuary, the Assam Tribune reported.
— Mizzima

Workers call on the govt to protect their rights
Mandalay workers on Sunday marched at a city park to call on the government to amend and enact laws to protect and promote the welfare of workers.
— Myanmar Times

Fearing detention and deportation, Rohingya refugees flee to Bangladesh
“Those who reach Bangladesh are lucky, but the conditions of those who are caught at the border are really bad,” Mohammed Shaker, a Rohingya resident of a refugee camp in Delhi’s Kalindi Kunj area, told me.
— Caravan Magazine

Workshop on controversial Yangon Region Library Bill held
A workshop on the much-criticized Yangon Region Library Bill was held at the Seinlansopyay Garden in Yangon on February 17.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar, Thailand meet on combating human trafficking
Myanmar hosted the 8th Bilateral Meeting between MPF-RTP (Myanmar Police Force-Royal Thai Police) on Combating Trafficking in Persons at M Gallery Hotel in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Measles vaccine program kicks off in seven Yangon townships
The measles vaccine program kicked off on February 17 in seven townships with high rates of measle breakouts.
— Eleven Myanmar

LPG Safety Training Course No. 2 opens in Thanlyin Refinery
Opening ceremony LPG Safety Training Course No. 2 conducted by Ministry of Electricity and Energy was held at Yangon Region No. 1 Oil Refinery (Thanlyin) on 17 February.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Military, USDP, ANP Withhold Nominees For Constitution Amendment Committee
The Myanmar military and two political parties have not submitted lists of nominees for a pending committee to draft amendments to the Constitution, which the Union Parliament is due to form on Tuesday.
— The Irrawaddy

Construction Ministry takes steps to form National Urban Committee
In a bid to design national urban policies, authorities discussed setting up a National Urban Committee – NUC during a coordination meeting held at the Ministry of Construction in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— Global Newlight of Myanmar

Women’s Rights Week to be held in Yangon
A week will be dedicated to celebrating, upholding and raising women’s rights in Myanmar in recognition of the international Women’s Rights Week in Yangon.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar Condemns Pulwama Terror Attack
In a statement, the ministry of foreign affairs said, “Myanmar strongly condemns the heinous terrorist attack in Pulwama, Jammu and Kashmir on 14 February, 2019 that claimed many lives and caused a number of injuries.”
— NDTV

Feature photo BANITAtour

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.