Myanmar morning news for June 13

Myanmar sends over 30,000 workers to work abroad in May
Myanmar sent 30,326 workers to work abroad legally in May, according to the country’s Ministry of Labor, Immigration and Population Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Yangon Lawmakers Reject 3 Regional Govt Proposals Worth $10 Million
Regional government wanted funds earmarked in fiscal 2019-20 budget for new police HQ, courthouse and Coco Island ferry.
— Irrawaddy

Local insurance providers see growth potential in industry
The government is expecting a total of 29 foreign and local life and non-life insurance companies to operate in Myanmar.
— Myanmar Times

Authorities urged to take action against growing zero-dollar tourism
The proliferation of zero-dollar tourism, sometimes known as zero-budget tourism, is prompting calls for action against such operations, which are largely run by Chinese nationals for tourists from China.
— Myanmar Times

Ooredoo, Facebook, GSMA start digital literacy campaign in Myanmar
SmarTone Ooredoo, Facebook and the GSMA have launched a digital literacy campaign in Myanmar. The initiative aims to raise awareness and increase adoption of mobile internet services in Myanmar. Dubbed ‘Internet 1O1’ (Internet One on One), the campaign is designed to inform and educate first time and new internet users, through one-on-one training at Ooredoo retail points and exclusive stores across the country, mainly in rural areas.
— Telecompaper

Drugs worth 306,000 USD seized from Bangladeshis in western Myanmar
Myanmar authorities seized narcotic drugs worth 459 million kyats (306,000 U.S. dollars) from two Bangladesh women in Rakhine state, according to the Central Committee for Drug Abuse Control (CCDAC) on Wednesday.
— Xinhua

Anti-Corruption Commission Chairman receives Australian Ambassador Ms Andrea Faulkner
U Aung Kyi, Chairman of Anti-Corruption Commission, received Ms Andrea Faulkner, Ambassador of Australia to Myanmar, at his office in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. During their meeting, they discussed the commission’s works including establishing Corruption Prevention Units in 18 Union Ministries,
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar and India becoming brothers in arms
Myanmar’s recent rout of an ethnic Naga rebel camp on its territory aimed to please India but is really part of a wider strategy to counter China
— Asia Times

Magwe Region to refine crude oil into gasoline
Magwe Region will soon be refining crude oil produced from its hand-dug wells into gasoline, with certain details such as water allocation to be settled before refining can commence.
— Myanmar Times

Rohingya Muslims found stranded on Thai island
Thai authorities have discovered 65 Rohingya Muslims on an island in southern Thailand after their boat ran out of fuel.
— UCA NEws

Asia Media Summit tackles fake news in digital era
Union Minister for Information Dr. Pe Myint led a delegation to attend the 16th Asia Media Summit in Siem Reap, Cambodia, and attended the opening ceremony yesterday. The three-day summit, held under the topic of Media Digitalization Focusing on Developing Markets, was organized by the Cambodian.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Laos pathway for Made-in-Myanmar meth
As dusk falls along the Mekong River, a nightly dance begins between Thai border security and Laos drug gangs now using drones, scouts and a pool of poor fishermen to shift record amounts of meth into Thailand.
— Khmer Times

Gems sale in local currency continues in Nay Pyi Taw
The fifth day of a sale of gems and jades in local currency continued at the Mani Yadana Jade Hall in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday morning. On the fifth day of gem sale, 998 jade lots out of 1050 jade lots were reported to be sold at K21671.979 million.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Myanmar, Thailand sign agreement to facilitate overland trade
Overland cross-border trade between Myanmar and Thailand will officially commence at the end of July following an agreement to allow vehicles from both sides across the border to facilitate the transportation of goods between the two countries.
— Myanmar Times

Foreign insurers bring disruption in untapped Myanmar market
Myanmar’s insurance market will soon face a sea change led by technologies and expertise brought in by foreign companies.
— Nikkei Asian Review

CBCM demands termination of Myitsone project
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Myanmar (CBCM) demanded a stop to the Myitsone dam project on June 8 in a statement. Bishops from all 19 religious’ territories in Myanmar included Cardinal Charles Maung Bo.
— Mizzima

Myanmar delegation visits India to boost bilateral relations, tourism
A delegation of officials from Myanmar visited New Delhi on Monday in a bid to boost bilateral relations and cross border culture and tourism between the two neighbouring countries.
— Newkerala

Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, U Thaung Tun receives the delegation led by Assistant Minister for Ministry of Commerce of People’s Republic of China
Union Minister for Investment and Foreign Economic Relations, H.E. U Thaung Tun received the delegation led by Mr. Li Chenggang, Assistant Minister for Ministry of Commerce, People’s Republic of China at the office Building No (1), the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Economic Relations in Nay.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

UEC chair guarantees independence, fairness and transparency in 2020 General Election
Hla Thein, the Chair of Union Election Commission said the UEC is working to enable the 2020 General Election to be independent, fair, transparent and acceptable, according to the news coverage by the Ministry of Information.
— Eleven Myanmar

Deputy Minister inspects IPRD offices, Minbu TV transmission station in Magway
DEPUTY Minister for Information U Aung Hla Tun inspected Information and Public Relations Department (IPRD) offices in Magway, Minbu and Aunglan townships and Minbu TV transmission station in Magway Region He arrived in Magway Region Government Office in the morning and met with Regional Ministers.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Election Commission Dismisses USDP Criticisms
An open letter from the United Solidarity and Development Party and its political allies to the election commission called current electoral processes unfree and unfair.
— Irrawaddy

Meet Myanmar’s Blue Shirts
The moment Kay Khine Tun, 22, was arrested at her nursing job in Yangon Children’s Hospital, her father readied for an exhausting battle with his former employer, the Myanmar Army.
— The Diplomat

Myanmar accused of ‘misinformation campaign’ over repatriation of Rohingya
Bangladesh has accused Myanmar of launching a “misinformation campaign” over the repatriation of Rohingya refugees.
— Arab News

National Seminar on Strengthening Health Promotion School kicks off in Nay Pyi Taw
National Seminar on Strengthening Health Promotion School titled “Physically and Mentally Fit Youth for the Brighter Future” was held at the Myanmar International Convention Centre-II in Nay Pyi Taw yesterday. Speaking at the seminar, Union Minister for Health and Sports Dr. Myint Htwe said.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Short checking time for Yangon region budget draws criticism
MPs have criticized that they get three days only to check Yangon Region government’s budget for 2019-2020 fiscal year.
— Eleven Myanmar

National Day ceremony of Russia celebrated in Yangon
The National Day ceremony of the Russian Federation was held at Melia Hotel in Yangon yesterday evening, with Union Minister for Transport and Communications U Thant Sin Maung in attendance. The ceremony was opened with the Myanmar and Russian national anthems.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Refugees Flee Monastery Compound in Rakhine as Myanmar Soldiers Enter
More than 1,000 civilians displaced by clashes in Myanmar’s Rakhine state slipped away from a Buddhist monastery giving them shelter on Tuesday before government soldiers could enter the compound to search for hidden rebel troops, sources said today.
— Radio Free Asia

Chinese Ambassador to Bangladesh Makes 1st Visit to Rohingya Camps
Envoy meets Rohingya activists and Bangladeshi relief officials, discusses repatriation process
— Irrawaddy

Under pressure: Can the ministry’s latest power plan keep the lights on?
Project delays and rising demand have created a power supply crunch, and the government is considering costly emergency measures to avoid blackouts in an election year.
— Frontier Myanmar

Officer Under Investigation Found Dead, Suicide Rumored
A Mandalay police officer facing investigation over the death of a detainee arrested in a cement
— Irrawaddy

Bamboo xylophone skills passed on to next generation in Kyaikto
A course on concluding classical training in Pattalar, or bamboo xylophone, was held at 10 a.m on 10 June at the Mahar Maygawon monastery in Kyaikto Township, Mon State, under the supervision of the state’s Minister for Bamar Ethnic Affairs.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

City development takes time
Aside from the drainage, residents also face issues with power shortages, broken pavements, traffic jams, poor waste management, homelessness and stray dogs – to name but a few.
— Myanmar Times

Pyithu Hluttaw Deputy Speaker receives Norwegian Ambassador
Deputy Speaker of Pyithu Hluttaw U Tun Tun Hein received Norwegian Ambassador to Myanmar Ms Tone Tinnes at his office, Hluttaw Building, Nay Pyi Taw yesterday.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Union Minister for Commerce attends South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair in Kunming
The South and Southeast Asia Commodity Expo and Investment Fair (SSACEIF) 2019 was opened yesterday at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention and Exhibition Center in China.
— The Global New Light of Myanmar

Feature photo Venngage

This week’s morning news photo features World Day Against Child Labour, June 12.

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.