Myanmar morning news for July 3

MIC gives nod to 12 local and foreign investments
Myanmar Investment Commission has allowed 12 local and foreign investments worth over 174 million US dollars and over 62 billion in Kyats, at its meeting No.1/2019.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar Villagers Get 14 Months Hard Labor For 2018 Protest Over Chinese Cement Plant
Four villagers in central Myanmar’s Mandalay region were sentenced to 14 months in prison with hard labor Tuesday for their roles in a July 2018 protest against a Chinese cement factory, the local court and the villagers said.
— Radio Free Asia

UN Forced to Face Its Track Record of Failure in Myanmar
On the Rohingya crisis, the government must prepare to work with ASEAN and others, but ultimately the solution will have to come from within.
— Irrawaddy

Domestic investments touch K1,333 bln in current fiscal
Between 1 October, 2018 and 28 June, 2019 in the current fiscal year, domestic investments by Myanmar citizens reached K1,333 billion and US$393 million, including expansion of capital by existing enterprises, according to a press release issued by the Myanmar Investment Commission.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Draft law to create trade authority, empower commerce ministry
The Ministry of Commerce (MoC) has drafted a law to establish a trade development body made up entirely of cabinet ministers and empower the new authority and MoC to issue lists of restricted items and non-tariff regulations.
— Myanmar Times

MRF and COFCO to study rice types for China export
Myanmar and China will cooperate in classifying rice types suitable for export to China following an agreement that up to 100,000 tonnes of rice can be exported to the country.
— Myanmar Times

Potential conflict with farmers over development project
The new town project “Sittwe Myanmar City 2030” which is planned to be developed on 7000 acres of land in the capital Sittwe might cause friction with local farmers, members of parliament from Sittwe Township said.
— BNI Online

European car makers express interest in Myanmar
The Czech Republic has announced interest to assemble Skoda cars in Myanmar, U Thaung Tun, Union minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, said last week.
— Myanmar Times

Myanmar shut North Korean restaurant in 2018 due to sanctions, government confirms
A North Korean restaurant in Yangon, Myanmar thought to have closed in 2018 due to international pressure was closed by the government in accordance with UN sanctions measures, according to a report to the UN made public in the past week.
— NK News

Myanmar worker arrested for allegedly killing Thai boss in Chiang Mai
A pay dispute led to a Myanmar worker being arrested on Monday night for allegedly murdering his Thai employer in Chiang Mai’s Sarapee district, police said.
— Thai Visa

Myanmar military appeals for effective peace building during ceasefire
The Myanmar military appealed to stakeholders in the country on Tuesday to conduct effective peace building during the ceasefire period.
— Xinhua

Construction of Myanmar’s first aquarium to complete next year
YANGON-The first international-standard Myanmar Aquarium including an underwater wing is being constructed in Kandawgyi Gardens in Yangon and is expected to complete in 2020, says Director Tin Maung Tun from Mottma Development Group implementing the Aquarium project.
— Eleven Myanmar

Tatmadaw urges EAOs to continue efforts for peace process
The Office of Commander-in-Chief yesterday released a statement titled “the exhortation for the effective undertakings of peace processes during the ceasefire period”, saying that the Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs) need to continue working on the path to the peace through signing the National Ceasefire Agreement (NCA) and negotiations.
— Eleven Myanmar

Myanmar connects its ‘first utility scale PV project’
The east Asian nation has stepped into the solar world with the 50 MW Minbu facility – planned to eventually reach 170 MW – reportedly beating other previously announced projects to grid connection.
— PV Magazine

Rakhine still excluded from Myanmar ceasefire
Troubled Rakhine State in Myanmar has been excluded by the military from a wider ceasefire in the nation’s north that has been extended, for a second time, until Aug. 31.
— UCA News

Swine flu claims 21 lives in Myanmar
At least 21 people have died in Myanmar due to swine flu in the past two weeks, according to a health ministry official on Tuesday.
— AA

Myanmar man brought to court over death of girl struck by ceiling fan
A Myanmar man was brought to the Ampang Sessions Court here Tuesday (July 2) to face a charge in connection with the death of a two-year-old girl who was struck by a ceiling fan.
— The Star Online

YCDC warns businesses along Shwe Hlay Creek
The Yangon City Development Committee has notified Jade Hotel, Chan Myae Hotel, High Five Hotel and High Star Hotel to remove annexes encroaching on Shwe Hlay creek in Yangon Region’s North Okkala Township.
— Myanmar Times

157 more Myanmar refugees repatriated from Thailand
A total of 157 more Myanmar refugees have been were brought back to homeland from Thailand as the fourth batch of repatriation, the Myanmar Foreign Ministry said on Tuesday.
— Xinhua

More development on the books for Mandalay
More funding will be used for Mandalay Region development work in the 2019-2020 fiscal year, said Mandalay Hluttaw (Assembly) MP and regional Project Budget and Finance Committee member U Wine Chit Aung.
— Myanmar Times

Eighty years old elderly wins lottery jackpot
An 80 years old woman from Hinthada township won the Aungbarlay (State Lottery Department)’s lottery grand prize of 1.5 billion Kyats.
— Eleven Myanmar

Mizzima and VOA jointly organize Press Freedom Seminar
Mizzima TV and Voice of America (VOA) jointly organized a seminar under the title ‘Myanmar Press Freedom and Democracy Level’ at Wyndham Hotel in Yangon on June 29.
— Mizzima

No communication between ministries in lamp post, pavements and cable repairs: Yangon Mayor
There is no connection among ministries in repairing of lamp-posts, pavements and cables according to Yangon Mayor Maung Maung Soe, at a news brief of Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC) held at the city hall on July 1.
— Eleven Myanmar

Mottama Development opens new property gallery in Yankin
Real estate developer Mottama Development Group Co. launched a new property gallery at Maha Land Centre, Kabaraye Pagoda Road to showcase its latest premium office towers, malls and public recreational zones in Yangon on June 29.
— Myanmar Times

Moe Moe Suu Kyi nominated as Immigration and HR Minister
Yangon Region government Chief Minister nominated Moe Moe Suu Kyi as the minister in the newly created Immigration and Human Resources Ministry.
— Mizzima

Myanmar continues to receive verified Myanmar nationals from Thailand
As the second day of repatriation of the fourth batch of Myanmar nationals from Thailand on 2 July 2019, 32 verified Myanmar nationals from Ban Nai Soi were welcomed by the Chief Minister of Kayah State Government at the Maese Gate in Kayah State.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Vehicle carrying Myanmar migrant workers catches fire
A vehicle carrying 64 Myanmar migrant workers caught fire at the entrance of Mae Sot on June 30 evening.
— Eleven Myanmar

Trading on YSX dips in June
In the month of June, 233,994 shares of five companies listed on the Yangon Stock Exchange, worth around K1.32 billion, were traded on the exchange, according to the monthly report of the YSX. The trade volume was lower than May, when 275,325 shares were traded on the exchange.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Catching up with the ‘lowlands’: education in the Naga hills
GROWING UP in the remote Naga hills shortly after Burma gained independence from the British, there was almost no access to education for people such as Eno Jüvsügmiu Makury.
— Frontier Myanmar

Union Election Commission holds meeting with Kayah political parties
Union Election Commission held a meeting with political parties in Kayah State and social organizations at Union Election Commission Kayah Branch Office yesterday morning. The meeting was attended by member of Union Election Commission U Soe Yal ( Kayah State representative), Chairman of Kayah State Union Election.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar’s first sci-fi comic series breaks new ground
As a youth, artist Ko Kyaw was burning with curiosity about what life would be like in the future. He grew up in Yangon, and conceptualises a completely different city decades – even centuries – from now.
— Myanmar Times

MoE, KfW sign agreements on funding nearly euro 10 mln for TVET reform
Department of Technical and Vocational Education-DTVE of Ministry of Education and German Development Bank (KfW) signed a financing agreement and other separate agreements on funding nearly euro 10 million on implementing “TVET Reform Programme Phase II” at the ministry in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

$55M Offshore Supply Base Slated for Irrawaddy Region
Built by local company Myint and Associates Offshore Supply Base, it will supply, transport and store necessities for exploration of offshore oil and gas fields.
— Irrawaddy

Rule of law, justice guarantee security to people
Violence, involving the use of weapons, in the midst of human society, poses a challenge to the rule of law. When people feel their lives or property are threatened, they begin to lose confidence in the administrative machinery and the justice mechanism.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Preparing for the next disaster
Struggling to survive in a storm, U Win Aung and his family climbed a tree and clung on for their lives in Pyinsalu, a town on the Ayeyarwady River in Labutta township, Ayeyarwady Region. His relatives fell, one after another, into the water and never surfaced again, but he couldn’t do anything except feel desperately sorry for them.
— Myanmar Times

Tree planting event held to usher in Myanmar Women’s Day
A tree planting event organized by the Myanmar National Committee for Women’s Affairs (MNCWA) to usher in July 3 Myanmar Women’s Day was held at Yan Aung Myin Forest Reserve block 13 beside Nay Pyi Taw circuit road B-4 in Dekkhinathiri Township, Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

KNPP Slams Kayah State Govt’s Decision to Ban Ethnic Literature Event
Annual inter-ethnic cultural exchange banned for first time without explanation; party says it will cost the peace process local support.
— Irrawaddy

Union Minister Dr Win Myat Aye receives Chinese Ambassador
Union Minister for Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement Dr Win Myat Aye received Chinese Ambassador to Myanmar Mr Chen Hai yesterday at his office in Nay Pyi Taw.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

People protest against power bill hike in Yangon
Yangon residents staged protests against the power bill hike in Pazundaung and Thaketa Townships in Yangon on July 1.
— Eleven Myanmar

Centre set to help improve productivity in Myanmar
Myanmar’s plans to raise economic productivity through improving human capital development will now be backed by the Myanmar Productivity Centre (MPC), an agency that aims to help the economy move up the value chain.
— Myanmar Times

State Counsellor honors outstanding students of President’s Office, Union Govt office staff
A ceremony to honor outstanding students of the staff of the Office of the President and Ministry of Office of the Union Government in education year 2018-2019 matriculation examination and awarding of stipend to students attending school in education year 2019-2020 was held at the assembly hall of the Office of the President.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Military Using Lawsuits to Impede Freedom of Expression: Athan
The Military has sued 77 people since 2016 for insulting or defaming it or for causing or intending to cause its members to mutiny or neglect their duty, a report finds.
— Irrawaddy

Feature photo Hkun Lat

This week’s Myanmar morning news feature photo focuses on plastic waste throughout Asean.

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.